Yixing Factory One Standard Shuiping Teapot, Hongni Clay (late 1960s, approx. 150ml)
This standard shuiping (水平壺) teapot was produced by Yixing Factory One in the late 1960s. Made from hongni (紅泥) and holding approximately 150ml, traditionally described as an eight-cup size, it is a particularly well-preserved example, with excellent overall condition and clean, balanced proportions.
The pot follows the classic Factory One shuiping form: a rounded body, domed lid, simple loop handle, and straight rising spout. At this larger eight-cup size, the proportions remain harmonious while offering more room for the leaves to expand, making it especially practical for shared sessions.
The hongni used in Factory One production of this period is appreciated for its relatively dense body and direct brewing character. It tends to preserve aroma clearly while giving the liquor a smoother, slightly more rounded texture, making it especially suitable for oolong, yancha, aged oolong, and puer.
The base bears a “Zhongguo Yixing” (中國宜興) seal, but the significance here lies in the particular seal variant rather than the wording alone. Factory One used numerous different “Zhongguo Yixing” stamps, and among collectors, this specific version is associated with production that tends to show a noticeably higher standard of workmanship. This is generally understood to reflect the particular craftsmen and production line using the seal, rather than the mark itself functioning as an official grade designation.
That association is consistent with the pot itself: the lid fit is neat, the proportions are disciplined, and the overall finish is more refined than on many ordinary Factory One utility pots from the same era.
With its late-1960s hongni, excellent condition, larger practical capacity, and desirable seal variant, this is a particularly appealing example of the Factory One standard shuiping. It is a pot that is equally convincing as a collector’s piece and as a serious everyday brewing vessel.
