The exact teapot form called "龙头汉瓦" (literally "dragon‑head Han‑tile") is not widely documented in standard catalogs, so its precise provenance and canonical proportions are ambiguous. The name, however, strongly suggests a hybrid design: a spout modelled as a stylized dragon head (龙头) combined with a body whose silhouette or surface treatment evokes a Han‑period roof tile (汉瓦).
In general context, Chinese teapot forms frequently borrow historic and natural motifs—dragons as auspicious, sculptural spouts and ancient architectural elements as body shapes. Since the 17th–18th centuries, artisans (especially in Yixing) have produced many inventive forms in local clays, naming pieces after animals, artifacts or historical references rather than strict archaeological originals. A "dragon‑head Han‑tile" teapot would thus sit in this longstanding tradition of symbolic, sculptural vessels that blend function with storytelling.
Shape note: expect a compact, low‑profile body with flattened or wedge‑like planes reminiscent of a tile, a prominent dragon‑shaped spout, a fitted lid, and a balanced handle—emphasizing both pictorial detail and practical pouring performance.
Wood-fired handmade Yixing teapot made from Duanni clay sourced from the original Huanglongshan mine. Xu Shun Wei.
