Zisha teapot by Level 1A Grandmasters, JIANG Rong 蒋蓉 紫砂加釉 荷花莲子青蛙壶

Auction reference price HKD2,680,000

Lotus and frog, one pot and 4 sets of tasting cups with handles and asters

Master Jiang Rong – The First Lady of Chinese Zisha Art (1919–2008)

Jiang Rong, also known by her studio name Lin Feng, was born in 1919 in Yixing, Jiangsu Province — the cradle of Zisha pottery. A prodigy from an early age, she began studying pottery at the age of 11 under her father, Jiang Hong-Quan, and later apprenticed with her uncle Jiang Hong-Gao in Shanghai, where she mastered the art of sculptural teaware.

Recognized as both a National Master of Arts and Crafts (1993, 3rd batch) and a National Ceramic Art Master (2003, 1st batch), Jiang Rong remains a towering figure in Chinese ceramic history — the first woman ever awarded the title of Zisha Master in China.

Her early works, including the Lotus Pot, Peony Pot, and Buddha’s Hand Pot, were praised for lifelike realism and poetic elegance. She was appointed by the Jiangsu provincial government in 1956 as a technical consultant for Yixing pottery, a rare honour at the time. Later, under Premier Zhou Enlai’s direction, she created Zisha art sets as state gifts for diplomatic visits to Southeast Asia.

From the 1970s onward, Jiang Rong’s creations evolved toward naturalistic artistry — White Lotus Wine Set, Pipa Brush Holder, Toad Catching Insect Water Cup, and Tree-Trunk Planters — blending human warmth and nature’s vitality. Her later masterpieces, such as Hundred Longevity Tree-Trunk Pot, Jade Rabbit Moon Pot, and Chrysanthemum Butterfly Pot, established her signature sculptural style — technically flawless, vividly realistic, and spiritually alive.

Her works have been collected by the Palace Museum, Ziguang Pavilion at Zhongnanhai, and the Hong Kong Museum of Teaware, and have fetched auction records exceeding one million RMB for individual teapots such as Lotus Pot and Watermelon Pot.

More than an artist, Jiang Rong opened the path for generations of female potters, proving that delicacy and strength could coexist in clay. Her legacy continues to inspire collectors, scholars, and artisans around the world.

Titles & Honours:

- National Master of Arts and Crafts (1993)
- National Ceramic Art Master (2003)
- First Female Grandmaster of Chinese Zisha Art
- Technical Consultant, Yixing Shushan Pottery Cooperative (1956)
- State Gift Designer for Premier Zhou Enlai’s Diplomatic Visits