Jianshui clay
Jianshui clay from Yunnan is carved, inlaid and polished to a stone-like shine, with no glaze.
How a Jianshui pot gets made
Thrown on the wheel
Five local clays are blended and thrown on a wheel. Yixing potters paddle their pots, so this is a different craft from the start.
Carved and filled
Calligraphy is painted on, carved out, and the hollows are packed with clay of another color.
Polished after firing
The fired piece is ground and polished by hand with no glaze, until the surface shines like wet stone.
The writing is in the clay, not on it.
What to look for
Jianshui clay
Hand-picked pieces are on the way.
Good to know
What is Jianshui pottery?
Jianshui pottery is an unglazed ceramic from Yunnan, thrown on a wheel, inlaid with colored clay and polished. Teapots, tea jars and vases are common.
What is the difference between Jianshui clay and Yixing clay?
Yixing pots are paddled and left matte, so the clay stays slightly porous. Jianshui pots are thrown, inlaid and polished smooth.
What is a Yunnan steam pot?
It is a Jianshui clay pot with a hollow spout up the middle. Steam rises through it and slowly cooks chicken into broth, the dish called qiguo ji.
