The charm of purple - clay treasures.
As a treasure of Chinese traditional handicrafts, purple clay teapots have unique value in the fields of art and collection. These high-priced purple clay teapots not only show exquisite craftsmanship but also contain profound cultural connotations.
First of all, in terms of craftsmanship, the production process of these purple clay teapots is extremely exquisite. For example, the works of Master Gu Jingzhou are perfect in both shape design and detail processing. Taking his "Shi Piao" pot as an example, the lines are smooth and natural, giving people a sense of stability. As for Chen Mingyuan's "Chuanxiang Pot", the pot is in a square bucket shape. The shape is simple yet elegant. The ridges and ribs are sharp and powerful, highlighting a lofty spirit. The high level of craftsmanship of these works is astonishing.
The eight ZiSha teapots with the highest prices.
NO.8
Early Qing Dynasty, "Purple Clay Squirrel and Persimmon Pot" made by Chen Mingyuan, dedicated to Mr. Zishi.
At the 2019 Autumn Auction of Xiling Seal Engravers Society.
Transaction price: RMB 22,800,000.
This pot takes persimmons as the theme. The pot body is flat and round. Four symmetrical concave lines are pressed out with bamboo sticks to form four persimmon bodies until the bottom of the pot. A small bead is set at the bottom center. The pot shoulder has an obvious transition, with square elements within roundness. It has a single spout and a compressed lid. The spout opening is in an asymmetrical begonia shape. The pot lid is shaped like a persimmon calyx. Eight or nine calyx edges curl around the lid, vivid and lifelike. A squirrel is placed at the center of the calyx as the knob, raising its head, twisting its hips and wagging its tail, lively and vivid. The spout is rolled up with persimmon leaves and decorated with small branches.
On the lower side of the spout is engraved "For Mr. Zishi. Mingyuan." with unrestrained charm. (It should be in the handwriting style of Cao Lianrang in his youth. Among Chen Mingyuan's several engraving partners, Cao Lianrang has the closest cooperation relationship.) Below is stamped with the square seal with the Yangwen characters "Chen Mingyuan."
NO.7
In the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, "Purple Clay Dingmao Pot" made by Chen Mingyuan for Yang Zhongne.
At the 2022 Spring Auction of Xiling Seal Engravers Society.
Hammer price: RMB 24,000,000.
Inscriptions: Chen Mingyuan, “Pot Hermit” (seal mark); Chen Yuan (engraved inscription).
Packaging: Attached with a rosewood box with multiple seals and inscriptions by Gong Xinzhao.
This teapot has been recorded in various classics since the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. Its inheritance lineage has been clearly traceable since the Kangxi period. It has been recorded in three major purple clay classics, namely "Yangxian Pottery Theory", "Famous Pottery of Yangxian", and "Illustrated Study of Yangxian Purple Clay Teapots", and there are countless citations and records.
NO.6
ZiSha "Shi Piao" Pot made by Gu Jingzhou, painted by Jiang Hanting and inscribed by Wu Hufan.
2015 Dongzheng Spring Art Auction.
Transaction price: RMB 28,175,000.
Front: Painting of a solitary sparrow and snow-covered plum blossoms. Inscription: Painted for Brother Hufan. Hanting.
Back: Engraved with "Chew carefully on plum blossoms and enjoy the fragrant snow milk." Inscription: Brother Hanting painted a teapot for me. Inscribed by myself.
Seal marks: Gu Jingzhou (bottom mark), Jingzhou (lid mark).
NO.5
Chen Mingyuan's "Plain - Belt Pot"
2015 Spring Auction of Beijing Poly
Transaction Price: RMB 31,625,000
This work features a pot body that is nearly spherical and tapers gradually from top to bottom. The pot body is round and full, with smooth and beautiful lines and a thick patina.
It has a round lid, a round bead knob, a short curved spout, and ear-shaped handle. At the bottom, three petal-shaped feet are molded in accordance with the shape.
A circle of plain belt patterns is piled up along the pot body, simple and elegant, with a beauty of tranquility and simplicity. At the position of the pot belly below the spout, there is an inscription in regular script "Chen Mingyuan" and a seal in seal script.
This pot is included in Pang Yuanji's "Illustrated Catalogue of Famous Pottery in Xuzhai", and the origin of its shape is described in detail: "Chen Mingyuan likes to make pots by imitating ancient sacrificial vessels. This pot is round with a short spout and a long handle and has three feet. The lid imitates a box in bronze ware. According to "Shuowen Jiezi", a box is a seasoning utensil. It has a spout. Its shape is quite similar to today's tea pot. This pot is actually imitated from it. There is a plain belt around the middle waist. The production is simple and unadorned. The pots made by Hechun have always been known for their exquisite craftsmanship. This pot is made of purple-black clay and is outstanding for its elegance and simplicity. Under the three characters 'Chen Mingyuan', there is a square seal in Zhuwen script with 'Chen Mingyuan' on it."
NO.4
NO.3
Chen Mingyuan, "Chuanxiang Pot".
The first art auction of Poly Huayi (Shanghai).
Transaction price: RMB 34,500,000.
The pot is in a square bucket shape with a simple design. It is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, handsome and upright. It has a square handle and a square spout, and is supported by four feet at the bottom. Purple clay contains the charm of calligraphy and the elegance of literati. All the elegance is concentrated here.
For this pot, the four corners of the body, lid, spout, handle and feet are all made with concave ribs. The body, lid, feet and spout also have ribs on the inside. The curved line of the short curved spout is ingenious and smooth, just right, creating a dialogue between the round and square shapes with the square-shaped pot handle. The ridges and ribs made are sharp and powerful, showing an even more lofty and outstanding spirit. The artisan devotes full attention to it, making this pot even more remarkable with its elegant bone structure and extraordinary firmness.
At the bottom is engraved with the running script inscription and signature "May the books in my chest spread fragrance." and "Mingyuan", as well as the seal marks in seal script with Yangwen characters "Chen Mingyuan" and "Pot Hermit". The verse is from the famous tea-praising poem "Thanks for Sending Nianyuyuan Picked Tea Buds" by Huang Tingjian, a poet of the Song Dynasty: "After ten years of reading by lamplight, may the books in my chest spread fragrance."
Mingyuan quoted this verse to inscribe on his pot. This not only shows his profound knowledge and self-cultivation but also reveals the artist's self-confidence and pride in his purple clay pot art, which can be said to be evident.
In the Qing Dynasty, Wang Wenbai once wrote "Ode to Pottery Presented to Chen Mingyuan": "How can the pearls and jades in the world be worthy of being taken? How can they be compared to a lump of clay from the headwaters of Yangxian Creek...Throughout history, how many people have had such skills? Chen Sheng, Chen Sheng is truly unrivaled." Chen Sheng refers to Chen Yuan, with the courtesy name Mingyuan, the sobriquet Hecun and also Pot Hermit. He comes from a purple clay pot-making family. His father, Chen Ziqi, is a famous pot-making craftsman.
According to research, his maternal grandfather is Jiang Bofu (Shi Ying), a disciple of Shi Dabin. Precisely because of his family's artistic heritage, Chen Mingyuan's talent in purple clay art is evident. He made a great impact at once and became widely known.
NO.2
"FangGu Pot" painted by Fan Zeng and made by Gu Jingzhou.
At the 2018 Spring Auction of Beijing Dongzheng.
Transaction price: RMB 34,500,000.
The pot is of flat-bellied shape. The pot body is round and smooth. It has a short spout, a circular handle and a cover in the shape of studs. The circular handle rises evenly and is full of agility. As a whole, the pot is well-proportioned in form and structure, with proper expansion and contraction.
Fan Zeng painted "Picture of Old and Young Playing" on one side of the pot body. There are also the verses from Tao Yuanming's "Returning Home": "Rejoicing in following the decree of Heaven, what doubts can there be?" adding more charm. This antique pot is a model of cross-border cooperation between masters. One is the leading figure in the purple clay field, and the other is a great master of Chinese calligraphy and painting. The combined work of the two has self-evident artistic value.
NO.1
Gu Jingzhou's "Ten-piece Tea Set with Squirrel and Grapes".
At the 2015 autumn auction of Beijing Dongzheng.
Transaction price: RMB 92,000,000.
All things in nature are an inexhaustible source of creation. By extracting the essence from the forms of objects in nature and refining them through artistic processing, they can become works of art.
And the work of squirrel and grapes is no exception. The densely stacked grape fruits symbolize a bountiful harvest of grains and wealth. Bunches of grapes also have the meaning of "abundance". Rats are "zi" in the twelve two-hour periods, implying the meaning of "offspring". The combination of grapes and squirrels symbolizes "many offspring", "abundant harvest" and "wealth".
The works of squirrel and grapes are elegant and generous, and extremely full of natural charm. The branches, leaves and grapes wind around the whole body of the pot. Several squirrels are jumping among them, naive and charming, extremely vivid. The pot lid is slightly convex. With the grape branch as the knob, it is gracefully curved. The whole pot outlines a three-dimensional artistic picture, truly achieving the perfect combination of practicality and art.