《明式西施》Ming Dynasty Era Style ~ Xi Shi, 265.6ml, Using Our Cao Family's Rare & Cherished Bai Ma Zi 白麻子, Endorsed by Premier Master Cao An Xiang, Crafted by L4 Assoc Master Artist Zhang Ke ~!Congratulations to Mr E.W.! 1251hrs 14th Nov 2025, Berkeley! CA!
《明式西施》Ming Era style Xi Shi.
This is a rare ready piece that our Cao Family, represented by Zhang Ke, is presenting. (Commissioning one would be $1490).
Our Cao Family's rare and cherished Bai Ma Zi clay, fired at 1370degC, 曹家珍贵~100% 纯白麻子段泥!,
at 265.6ml, crafted by L4 Associate Master Zhang Ke 助理工艺美术师, 张轲。
Special and Rare Ore & Clay: Bai Ma Zi 白麻子
"MA ZI , fired under the 1250°C region of temperatures, will result in a light pink or pale beige colour.
Under the current advancement (reaching and stabilization) of HIGHER firing technique (Mr Li Hong Yuan stated in his Tour with our May Tour Group too: "at 1370°C"!), we are able to uncover that MA ZI is actually able to exhibit its 绚丽多彩: greatly colourful result. People are now able to uncover and appreciate of the value of such high-firing MA ZI clay!"
Bai Ma Zi must be fired at 1370degC, and in a specially coated kiln, in order to give it its renowned One-Of-A-Kind, colour-montage of clustered clouds and pepper dots, affectionately with both white and black clouds and pepper dots fighting for its own space on the surface! We get to enjoy the truly special montage:
THE AMAZING NEBULA~CONSTELLATION OF ZI NI, LÜ NI, HONG NI IN OUTER SPACE!
~ it is very difficult to fire,
There are ubiquitous, many, many fake "Bai Mai Zi" on the market.
Here is the real one by our Aunt Senior Master Cao Lan Fang:
As we say in YiXing, just like THE AMAZING NEBULA~CONSTELLATION OF ZI NI, LÜ NI, HONG NI IN OUTER SPACE!
This is from Zhang Ke's piece, a Ming Era Style Xi Shi:
Another Nebula~Constellation in Space!
Here a Ju Lun Zhu by Zhang Ke:
It is very difficult to get the correct colour montage, because the temperatures within the kiln can vary, even with the best intent to maintain it at exactly 1370degC or 1371degC or 1372degC. The temperature variation within the kiln, by just a few degrees or even one degC, is enough to cause a different balance of colour (either more white or more black) montage presented when the kiln door is opened.
We have local Chinese close patrons, and they, upon commissioning Cao Lan Fang or Zhang Ke to craft, are willing to accept the outcome (the constellation may veer towards the darker balance, or it could veer towards the lighter balance) and receive whatever comes out of the kiln, as they say candidly, "色差? 没事! 就随缘吧"!
Not all customers are willing to go the commission route and prefer to pick any of the ready-made pieces that our aunt Cao Lan Fang and cousin Zhang Ke craft and successfully fire.
This is a Cup crafted with Bai Ma Zi clay by our aunt Cao Lan Fang, for testing, demonstration, education and illustration for customers who want to see how it would look like if Bai Ma Zi is fired at "only" 1150 - 1250degC (for most ZiSha clays), (there is a small crack at the side), exactly the light pink or pale beige as described in the Museum above!
Exhibiting the most beautiful Bai Ma Zi famous effect, requires UNIQUELY FIRING the pot AT 1370degC, in a specially-coated kiln (Cao Family et al work closely with this family friend and owner of the kiln):
Commissioning our aunt Senior Master Cao Lan Fang, is $2750 for Bai Ma Zi, Austere work (commissioning our aunt for an Austere work in most other commoner clays is $2200).
Commissioning Zhang Ke is welcomed too, at $1490 for an Austere Bai Ma Zi work ($1090 for commoner clays).
The former, the Chrysanthemum Lid-Knob Ju Lun Zhu, is at $2270,
The latter created by Zhang Ke, of which there are two pieces, stands at only $1177 each,
This is the precious Bai Ma Zi piece by Cao Lan Fang:
https://www.realzisha.com/
And these are the two precious pieces successfully crafted and fired by Zhang Ke,
First one is the Ming Era Style Xi Shi, showcasing a lighter colour balance:
Commissioning projects are welcomed by you, to join in the fun of ZiSha commissioning as well! The above are three precious ready pieces of the typical colour spectrum exhibited by firing Bai Ma Zi at 1370degC.
Welcome to the world of ZiSha!!! and the fascinating ZiSha that is Bai Ma Zi!
～～～～～～～～～～
National Grand Master of Ceramic Arts, Chen Guo Liang is the best at Thin-Walled Construct in YiXing, and Zhang Ke is tutored by, Chen Guo Liang.
Chen Guo Liang's works, are highly sought after, and his works are considered: BLUE CHIPS in our YiXing City:
*** WHAT THAT MEANS:
One can walk in to our local bank, and put on the counter, a Chen Guo Liang's work, submit it, and the bank will approve of you to take a loan and of course, a mortgage to buy properties as well. Chen Guo Liang's works are THAT SUBSTANTIAL!
Zhang Ke, IS TUTORED BY CHEN GUO LIANG, and Zhang Ke is the spiritual successor of our Cao Family, and majoring in Austere works.
Zhang Ke and us with National Grand Master of Ceramic Arts 国家陶瓷艺术大师, Chen Guo Liang 陈国良!!! He is our neighbour, strong Family Buddy, and came by to say hi to us!
BELOW, This is Zhang Ke with Famous Painter Cao Tian Wen 曹天文 recently on the 31st October 2025, 4pm, afternoon. 
Painter Cao Tian Wen is currently the top 1 or second best Painter of Bamboos in China, and he came from Shandong and Beijing, to pick up his previously ordered pots from us, and to paint on new ones, here, the new Five Fang Gus 仿古 and one Rong Tian 容天, plus one more He Huan 合欢(not in picture), which he had commissioned from our aunt Cao Lan Fang and Zhang Ke himself. He is also here to paint on one Niu Qi Chong Tian in Zhu Ni Da Hong Pao, commissioned by one of our patrons!
Sir Cao Tian Wen is the current Head of the Institute of Art, Shandong Province!
He works closely with Zhang Ke as well, and here are the gifts that Cao Tian Wen honoured and bestowed upon Zhang Ke, in Year 2020 庚子年, for his studio:
Zhang Ke, being our Spiritual Successor to the Four Cao Masters: Cao Ya Lin, Cao Yan Ping, Cao An Xiang and Cao Lan Fang (Zhang Ke is Cao Lan Fang's Son), utilises naturally, our Cao Family's High Quality Bai Ma Zi Duan Ni!
Congratulations to the happy and lucky owner of this EXQUISITE Ming Dynasty Era Style Xi Shi by Zhang Ke!!!
Once purchased, unique 5rmb cash note allocated and written in to secure and authenticate your purchase with RealZiSha and Associate Master Zhang Ke 张轲。
As usual, Video and Paper certification for the owner of this work and after receipt of this piece, Video Streamyard call to be arranged gladly for you to chat with Assoc Master Zhang Ke, regarding this Work!!
Associate Master Zhang Ke is grateful to you for your kindest patronage and adoption of his Art!
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