The Chinese name 渐变秦权壶 literally reads “Gradient (or Gradual-Change) Qin-Quan Teapot.” The term 渐变 indicates a surface treatment or glaze effect that shifts gradually in color or tone. The element 秦权 is ambiguous — it can evoke the Qin (秦) dynasty or refer to an ancient weight/scale (权) form — and there is no single, universally fixed historical teapot form called “Qin-Quan” in the standard corpus. Because of that ambiguity, the safest reading is that this is a modern or studio teapot whose silhouette is inspired by antique Qin-period bronzes or by compact weight-like forms, and finished with a contemporary gradient surface.
Historical context: many Chinese teapot shapes are named after classic objects, regional styles, or historical references (bronzes, weights, animals, plants). Studio potters and Yixing makers have long reinterpreted archaic motifs, combining traditional proportions with new surface techniques (including gradient glazes or layered patinas).
Shape note: expect a compact, well-balanced body with restrained, geometric lines—likely low and squat or slightly cylindrical—where spout, handle and lid are proportioned for precise pouring and a secure, tactile fit. The gradual surface transition emphasizes form while modernizing an otherwise archetypal silhouette.
Wood-fired handmade Yixing teapot made from Duanni clay sourced from the original Huanglongshan mine. Xu Shun Wei.
