Zisha teapot Qilin Golden Bell, handmade by artist Level 3, YU Zhen（L3-2018）ZI NI

🫖 Qilin Golden Bell Teapot  “麒麟金钟”
Clay: Zi Ni 紫泥
Capacity: 300ml
Craftsmanship: Fully Handmade
Engraving:  Yes
Artist: Yu Zhen 俞震 (Level 3 National Arts & Crafts Artist, 2018)
Includes: Certificate of authenticity + gift box

The Shape

The Qilin Golden Bell Teapot is a bold yet balanced design that merges square and round elements, expressing harmony through contrast. The base is circular, offering visual softness and stability, while the body transitions into a squared structure, lending the piece a sense of strength, structure, and architectural gravity.

Sitting proudly atop the lid is a vividly sculpted Qilin, a legendary auspicious creature in Chinese mythology known for guarding virtue and warding off evil. The detailed carving gives the teapot an immediate presence and ceremonial weight, making it a true centerpiece in any tea setting.

The spout is a stout oval short flow, delivering a strong, steady pour with clean cutoff. The handle is solid and firm, and at its lower end, a small tail-like curve adds a gentle counterbalance to the overall masculine profile. This tiny yet thoughtful detail gives the piece a touch of softness — a clever interplay between power and grace.

As the Chinese saying goes, it's like "Zhang Fei doing embroidery" — strong on the outside, precise and delicate in the details.

The Qilin Golden Bell teapot is not only a conversation piece — it is a fusion of cultural symbolism, sculptural artistry, and practical function, ideal for collectors who appreciate commanding yet refined works.

Carving Details:
On the inner wall, a magpie is depicted perched on a tree branch — symbolizing the traditional Chinese idiom "Happiness at Your Eyebrows" (Xi Shang Mei Shao), representing joy and good news arriving unexpectedly.

On the outer wall, the phrase "Seated with Qin and Books" (Zuo You Qin Shu) is inscribed, evoking an atmosphere of quiet elegance and scholarly refinement — a life accompanied by music and literature.

Engraver's Signature: Pu Shi (朴石)

Clay – Authentic Yixing Zi Ni (Purple Clay)
This teapot is made from original ore Zi Ni, sourced from Huanglong Mountain in Yixing. Zi Ni is a classic clay prized for its balanced porosity and heat retention, making it suitable for all tea types.

Color: Deep purple-brown, modest and rich

Texture: Smooth, fine-grained, elegant without being flashy

Brewing Characteristics: Excellent heat preservation and aroma retention

Microstructure: Dual-porosity system allows for ideal air circulation within the pot, enhancing flavor development during brewing

Zi Ni teapots are often compared to a fine jade maiden — understated yet beautiful, subtle in presence, but powerful in function.

About the Artist – Yu Zhen (俞震)
Born in 1969 in the ceramics capital of Yixing, Yu Zhen is a Level 3 National Arts & Crafts Artist (awarded in 2018) and a respected member of Zisha Factory No. 1.

With over 20 years of experience in Yixing ceramic carving and teapot making, Yu Zhen’s works are known for their bold forms, refined carving, and masculine grace. Trained under multiple senior masters and immersed in a family of ceramic artists, Yu brings together the essence of traditional Chinese art and his own unique design sensibilities.

His style is characterized by:
✔ Structural confidence with dynamic flow
✔ Deep cultural references in shape and decoration
✔ Powerful lines, dignified proportions, and authentic workmanship

This Hanwa teapot is a testament to his deep technical skills and his poetic interpretation of form and function.

Recommended Teas: Suitable for all types – Pu-erh, Oolong, Black, Green, etc.

A roof for the soul, a home for the tea. Classic, composed, and culturally profound.