Xu Sihai’s Teapot Making

Xu Sihai’s Teapot Making

　　Xu Sihai’s teapot making in Shanghai began in the 1960s, and the large Yixing clay teapots he created gained fame worldwide. Influenced by the works of Qing Dynasty artists such as Chen Mansheng and Yang Pengnian, he collaborated with painters and calligraphers like Tang Yun, Xie Zhiliu, Cheng Shifa, and Hu Wensui to integrate teapot craftsmanship with calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving arts, producing numerous teapots adorned with artwork. He also collaborated with Taiwan professor Li Qimao on the “Qin Quan Teapot,” which bears an inscription by Han Tianheng reading “A Perfect Match.” This teapot was selected by Gu Jingzhou for inclusion in the book Treasures of Yixing Clay.

Xu Sihai has also painstakingly collected ancient and modern teapots from across China, and in 1992 founded the Sihai Teapot Museum at 322 Xingguo Road. The museum's collection includes over a thousand pieces ranging from primitive painted pottery teapots to Ming and Qing dynasty Yixing teapots. By material, there are ceramic teapots, bronze teapots, iron teapots, tin teapots, leather teapots, glass teapots, and more; by function, there are water teapots, wine teapots, liquid teapots, and tea teapots. The exhibits feature over 200 teapots from various dynasties in China, including some fine masterpieces by contemporary master teapot makers and ceramic artists.