This is a 1990s Yixing teapot of the type Taiwanese collectors affectionately call the "Tai Jian" (太監), one of the classic flat-bodied shuiping-style shapes that earned local nicknames when Yixing pots first arrived in Taiwan in large numbers.
Made outside the state factory system, it is crafted from local red clay (hongni-type 紅土) during the decade when Yixing was shifting toward large-scale production. Clay from this period is still regarded as noticeably better in texture and ageing potential than most material used in today's mass-market pots, which is what makes well-preserved 90s pieces such good value.
The squat, flattened body is more than charming. It lets strip-style teas such as Wuyi yancha, Dancong, Oriental Beauty and baozhong lie flat and unfurl naturally, while the low interior space concentrates aroma. At 100ml it sits squarely in classic gongfu territory.
This is exactly the kind of pot we recommend to newcomers: honest brewing performance, period clay, and the atmosphere of an earlier era of Yixing production, all at a very approachable price. The base is stamped with the "Zhong Guo Yi Xing" (中國宜興) seal, standard on export pieces of the period.
Several identical pots are available; you will receive one from the batch with minor variations in clay tone normal for production work of this era.
