The name "汉扁壶" literally reads as "Han (dynasty) flattened hu." The precise archaeological designation can be ambiguous: in Han-period (206 BCE–220 CE) material culture a 扁壶 usually refers to a flattened or compressed ewer-type vessel rather than a teapot in the later sense. If you are looking at a modern teapot modeled on that form, it is an adaptation rather than a direct historical teapot type.
Brief history: During the Han dynasty artisans produced a wide range of ceramic, bronze and lacquered vessels for daily use and burial offerings. Flat or compressed hu-e"wers" appear in tomb assemblages and on ritual tables as containers for wine or water; they reflect Han preferences for compact, stable profiles that packed and displayed well in grave goods. True teapots emerged much later; contemporary makers sometimes borrow Han shapes when producing novelty or historically inspired tea wares.
About the shape: The "flattened hu" is characterized by a low, compressed body with broad, relatively flat sides, a short neck, and a controlled pour—often with a short spout and a lid when adapted as a teapot. Its squat silhouette gives good stability and a distinct, archaic aesthetic well suited to reproductions and reinterpretations.
Wood-fired handmade Yixing teapot made from Duanni clay sourced from the original Huanglongshan mine. Xu Shun Wei.
