Ming Lu 明炉, 126.8ml, Xiao Mei Yao Zhu Ni 小煤窑朱泥, by our Collaborative Craftsman Zhai Yi Yao 翟一耀。
Skilful Craftsman Zhai Yi Yao 翟一耀 has officially joined up with Craftsman Wang Xing and us taking care of all the Zhu Ni Zi Sha Works from June 2024 onwards! He starts off with both his Xi Shi and Li XIng for us. Zhai Yi Yao and Wang Xing are former course mates for three years at the ZiSha school. He is one with us, working alongside his long time friend Craftsman Wang Xing.
Humble, hardworking and single-mindedly continuing his pursuit to help us all with affordable, high quality true Fully-Handmade ZiSha pots.
Here is Wang Xing!! A great salute to him and his hard work, as he had served many of you friends previously with efforts earlier this year!
Here is his Ming Lu created for you friends :-D
Ming Lu 明炉 is the Austere shape and model which all ZiSha collectors love for its extreme practicality!
Zhai Yi Yao's skills are brilliant.
His mastery of the overall shape is here for us to savour.
The Xing Ti 形体 of his works are superb! From the photographs, we admire and easily appreciate his amazing Craftsmanship.
This is ZiSha Art, working with XiaoMeiYao ZhuNi, one with even higher shrinkage than ZiNi and DuanNi, and thus a lot more deformities that CAN arise easily during firing. Success rates between 50-70%. We bear witness to dear Wang Xing's skills as he PAINSTAKINGLY and PROUDLY presents his labor of love for all of you friends.
~~~
Explained, https://www.realzisha.com/blogs/news/actual-zisha-landscape-at-yixing , the Craftsman by selling his hard-worked ZiSha craft at $190-$240, $45-$65 goes to the cost of the craft, inclusive of the fees for the firing for the kiln operator (three times per pot), the packaging boxes, and between $32 to $52 for the clay (Zi Ni Di Cao Qing, Duan Ni and upwards) used per pot. Craftsman takes 3 days (fastest 2.5days) to craft a pot. Out of 12 pots he makes a month of 30days, 9 pots will survive the kiln firing successfully. Out of 9 pots, a Craftsman on average sells 7 pots per month. For ZiSha models/designs that are very challenging and more complicated to craft, time taken will be longer, and the failure rate will be higher as well. Zhu Ni pots have higher failure rates than Zi Ni and Duan Ni pots too. Our Craftsmen are crazily committed to the cause of Fully-Handmade ZiSha Art and their strictness with their craft and dedication earn our respect. We give a big Thank You all of these Craftsmen, for they are saving what is our common precious tea culture: Tea + Fully-Handmade ZiSha Art and Craft.
~~~