Many newcomers to the world of purple Clay Teapots are very concerned about one issue: “How can I avoid buying fake purple clay teapots?” To avoid such problems, you first need to understand what exactly is “fake” in the context of purple clay Teapot counterfeits. Today, we will discuss the four major types of fakes in the world of purple clay teapots.
First Fake: Aging New Purple Clay Teapots
Due to the association with age, many enthusiasts believe that older clays are better and some old teapots have collectible value, so they prefer older teapots, specifically ‘Ming-Qing dynasty teapots, Cultural Revolution era teapots, Factory No. 1 teapots,' etc.
▲Aged Purple Clay Teapot
New teapots artificially aged to pass off as old teapots represent the first type of fake.
There are many methods to age new teapots, including boiling, burying them in the ground, or applying oil to make the surface appear dirty or patinated; some even forge signatures of famous artists.
▲Fake Shi Dabin signature
There are more low-quality fakes than high-quality ones, and these can mostly be distinguished by gaining a deeper understanding of purple clay teapots. Fake patina does not have the same luster as naturally developed patina, and the style of signatures differs from the originals.
For example, as previously mentioned, Shi Dabin often used inscribed signatures rather than seals, and Factory No. 1 teapots do not bear the special artist class signature.
Second Fake: Chemical Teapots
This type could be considered the “most fake” of all purple clay teapots. They are colored through the addition of chemicals, and if used excessively, these chemicals can leach out into water over time, posing a health risk.
▲Chemical teapot or sprayed glaze teapot
To achieve certain colors during firing, the clay itself is problematic. To avoid this type of teapot, one needs to understand purple clay clays. The simplest method is to avoid purchasing multicolored purple clay teapots or those claimed to be rare, exceptional clays.
▲Gu Jingzhou-made Junyu Genuine Republican Green
However, with a good understanding and discernment of purple clay, some clays like ‘Republican Green, Sky Blue clay, and Big Red Robe' can be cautiously acquired, but one should not be overly confident.
Third Fake: Slip-cast Teapots and Wheel-thrown Teapots
I've written a dedicated article on this topic before, but it's worth repeating here. Purple clay is a ‘Mineral' that undergoes weathering, refining, and aging to become clay suitable for making teapots.
▲Purple clay raw ore
Purple clay is not ordinary clay; coarse clay cannot be formed using slip-casting or wheel-throwing techniques, only fine clays (over 200 mesh).
▲Making slip-cast and wheel-thrown teapots
These two methods are not traditional techniques for forming purple clay teapots. Instead, they require the addition of water glass, and some even apply a spray coating, which eliminates the unique breathability of purple clay teapots. Therefore, these types of teapots cannot be called true purple clay teapots and constitute the third type of fake.
Fourth Fake: Ghost-worked Teapots and Fake Certificates
As the purple clay teapot industry has grown, potters now receive professional titles. Many newcomers lack the ability to critically evaluate teapots, so they often base their purchases on the potter's title. In the world of purple clay fakes, the most difficult to identify are ‘title fakes and ghost-worked teapots'.
Indeed, the teapot may be genuine, but it's unclear whether it was made by the titled artist. How many were produced? Does it have any real collectible value? These questions remain unanswered. When selecting a master's work, first investigate the typical production volume of the master's works. Ghost-worked teapots, while not produced in large quantities, are still not rare. Second, when purchasing a teapot, don't just rely on the potter's title; focus on the craftsmanship and value of the teapot itself, developing your own critical appreciation to determine where its quality lies. If you can do this, you will largely avoid most ghost-worked teapots.
Final Summary
The above covers the four main types of fake teapots. Enthusiasts of purple clay teapots shouldn't be deterred; although the subject seems complex, it's actually quite simple. The key is to gain some basic knowledge about purple clay and not blindly dive in.
With a bit of understanding, you'll find that many fakes are laughably obvious and easily avoidable. Purple clay teapots are widely recognized as the premier Tea wares, and despite being tarnished by some recent issues, they should not be dismissed outright. Purple clay is inherently simple; it's people who complicate things. May this cup of tea help return us to our roots and clarify the essence of purple clay.