A pot that has never been raised is so moist, can you believe it?
The happiest moment for a pot player is when his pot is as smooth as jade.
But why some purple clay teapots have their own "pulp" as soon as they come out of the kiln, so they are smooth and eye-catching.
01
Is it a chemical pot?
First of all, it is judged that the kiln light color is good-looking and moisturizing, is it a chemical pot? of course not. The judgment of chemical pots cannot only be based on color, but they are also very different in color. The real purple sand pot is smooth and comfortable, while the chemical pot is falsely bright. For specific identification, please refer to (Seven methods to keep you away from chemical industry) pot!).
In addition to factors such as mud material and kiln temperature difference, there is also an important process that affects the smoothness and later soaking effect of Zisha teapot - Ming needle. "Ming needle" is an important process in the forming of Yixing Zisha teapot, and it is also a housekeeping skill that many Zisha craftsmen keep secret. Therefore, many Zisha pots treated with Ming needles have no glaze on the surface, but they are bright and moist, which is why some new pots have a luster and luster.
02
Why Ming Needle? How does it work?
Ming needle refers to the process of scraping and pressing the surface of the green body with smooth tools (mainly plastic plates and horn pieces).
The horns are scraped into different shapes and thicknesses, which are used to process smooth and delicate surfaces such as the smooth body, spout, handle, lid, and rib pattern. In order to match the different shapes of teapots, there are also many styles of Ming needles.
▲The horn slices used by Mr. He Yang for the needle process
Common needles are body tube clear needle, mouth handle clear needle, square head, hijab head, oblique head, and other clear needles. For example, when making a rib pattern, there are also special rib scooping needles.
The function of Ming needle is not only to judge whether the workmanship of the pot is excellent, but also to have a significant impact on the firing effect of the pot and the soaking effect of the finished product. Whether from an artistic point of view or from a practical point of view, the role of Ming needle is obvious.
▲Mr. He Hongmei's Ming needle process of making pots
At the same kiln temperature, the sintering degree of the sand pot with the Ming needle process in place is higher. When the sintering is in place, not only the color of the sand pot is perfect, but also the strength of the green body is high (not easy to break). In ancient times, purple sand artists used a sentence to describe the function and process characteristics of Ming needle, "If you let go of your hands, the light will shine on the face, and if you release the smelting, you will be able to make money. than condensed copper".
A legend about the needle of light
It is said that during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, a pot maker was rushing to make a few tea pots. It took a lot of time just to light the blanks, and it was always unsatisfactory. One day, he picked up a pot blank to prepare a bare blank. It happened that his wife's hair comb was placed next to the table. He thought it was a blank blank tool and picked it up and used it. As a result, the hair brush made of horns made the body of the kettle very smooth. , Since then, the pot-makers have been passed down by word of mouth, and the tools made of horns are used as clear needles, which are regarded as the best thing for the smooth blank.
03
Clear needle treatment is easier to soak
In addition to the pots made of high-quality raw ore mud, which are easy to soak, Ming Needle Kung Fu is also important for pot raising in the later stage.
Although the purple clay pot is not like the glaze applied to the porcelain, the green body is already very shiny. Ming needle work directly affects the water color of the pot body, and also directly affects the formation of the "paste" on the surface of the pot body. The need to light a pot several times and a dozen or twenty times are completely different concepts. This is the embodiment of the craftsman's patience and meticulousness, and it is also the secret of the easy soaking of the purple clay pot.
▲Mr. Wu Liujun shows the clear needle process
It can be seen from the above pictures that the purple clay teapot has a certain smoothness when it is green with needles. A really good pot, with good air permeability and impermeability, must be a pot with a clear needle in place. This is not only a process of pot making, but also has a deep mystery. Only good mud and good craftsmanship can make a good pot.
04
How long does it take for a purple clay pot to grow pulp?
Some pot friends will ask, how long does it take to raise the pulp?
Some pots are effective in a few days, while others may take a little longer. This has something to do with the mud, technology, frequency of use, pot type, etc., and the soaking time of different mud is different, and each has its own temperament.
vermillion clay pot
▲Click on the map to view Cheng Han·Shouzhen's ball
The main features of vermilion pots are that the pot is thin and has high iron content. Using this type of purple sand pot to make tea will have a more fragrant tea flavor and a smoother throat rhyme. Most people use it to brew Dahongpao, Narcissus, Dancong Such as semi-fermented tea, some people also use it to make black tea.
Due to the thicker color of semi-fermented tea soups such as Dahongpao, and the better absorption capacity of vermilion pots, the effect can be seen after a few weeks of raising the pot, and the surface of the pot body will initially show a warm feeling.
Purple clay pot
▲Click on the map to view Chen Zhengchu·Dazhu Section (Shun Bamboo Pot)
The purple clay pot has the characteristics of fine mud quality and stable color. It has always given people a mature, stable, dignified and solemn feeling. Compared with the red clay pot, the color of the purple clay pot is more restrained, so it takes a little longer to raise the pot.
However, some clay materials have been stale for a long time, and the craftsmanship of raising the pot changes very quickly. For example, the pure purple old clay of teacher Chen Zhengchu is well-known among pot friends.
Duan clay pot
Duan mud pots have a lighter appearance, so they are generally used to brew white tea and other light-colored teas. But after careful maintenance, once developed, its color will be very beautiful.
▲Click on the map to view Sun Yueqiang · Childlike Pan Pot
In addition to mud and craftsmanship, it is also very important to master the correct method of raising pots. In addition, perseverance and frequent brewing can achieve the effect of pearl and jade.
Enjoying drinking tea, appreciating the pot quietly, and raising the pot patiently.
