Isin clay, or tszyša: description, history, technology and reviews

The Isin clay, also called zisha, is a special material collected in China, in the city of Yixing. The popularity of this area was due to products made of clay, mainly teapots. They are manufactured in 20 km from the city of Isina, where more than 70% of the population is employed in production.

Clay, which is similar to the Isinskaya, is found today in a variety of places, but the material described in this article has a high content of silicate fine particles and kaolin, which after firing makes it possible to achieve a porous structure and a greasy sheen. This effect is not found in any of the analogs.

Before the Ceramics of Ishin

The vessel with a lid, spout and handle was used in ancient cultures since the Bronze Age. Previously, it was made of tin, gold, silver and copper, and was used during the feasts for wine and water. However, then no one could think about the fact that you can make tea in it.

The appearance of a Chinese tea kettle is associated with a change in the way a tea drink is consumed. In ancient times, it was cooked in boilers, after pouring the ground crumbs with boiling water, whipping into thick foam. Then the tradition of brewing a tea leaf came into use, then a teapot appeared.

Varieties of Ysin clay and its features

Isin clay in products after firing can have open and closed pores, which provide a slow cooling of dishes, and when brewing tea "breathes". You can subdivide such material into three varieties:

• Zisha
• Zhusha;
• Ben Shan Lu.

For the formation of a range of colors, which varies from black to yellow, clays are mixed, mineral and organic substances are added to them, and during the production process, the firing temperature changes. Isin clay is strictly regulated, because its reserves are limited, so in the end it is possible to get high-quality products that are distinguished by high cost.

Clay can be divided into two more types, as it lies in separate layers. The uppermost is plastic, all of the following are petrified. Soft material is considered the worst, everyday utensils are used. Isin clay contains a huge amount of kaolin, which allows burning products, affecting them with a temperature of up to 1200 ° C. If ordinary clay were used, the products would simply melt. Because of this, the kettles turn out to be brittle, but fairly firm.

Reviews about Yixin clay

Consumers characterize the clay extracted from the Yixing areas as a loose and elastic material, characterized by high porosity and elasticity. People argue that this clay is pretty malleable to processing, which is why it can be given a variety of forms, kneading as you like.

Vessels after firing, according to consumers, are able to absorb, but they do not let moisture pass, which allows the tea leaf to get air through the clay walls and to be well infused. According to buyers of such utensils, the internal microelements of tea leaf interact with clay, it allows to neutralize lead and destroy harmful compounds.

Technology features

The Chinese kettle from the Ysin clay is made using a rather complicated technology. At the first stage, raw materials are extracted from the depths of the earth, which is divided into small elements, and then subjected to thorough drying, this stage takes several weeks and even years. The deadline will be determined on the spot, and it will depend on the chemical composition of the material and specific tasks. Today this stage is shortened, which is ensured by the use of vacuum drying.

If the following words can be applied to the product in front of you: a teapot, Ysin clay, hand work, then you can be sure that the product was manufactured according to a special algorithm. At the next stage the clay is ground until it turns into something like powder. It is screened, well washed, the paste is filtered out, which is taken to compact and displace the excess water.

The semi-finished product must be left in a closed container until the final molding is started. The described technology has a number of features, they assume the use of a huge set of special tools. The master should repel the clay once more before commencing work until it reaches the desired thickness equal to the wall thickness of the future product.

Methods of work

When a Turk made from the Ysin clay is made, the masters operate according to the same technology. The next step is to form a round bottom, as well as a strip, which will connect the elements together. Once the ends are mated, the master begins to mold the body, sealing the seams.

In the place where the spout will be located, a hole for draining is prepared in advance. Once everything is ready, you can install the pen and spout. The outer and inner walls of the product are smoothed out, they need to be leveled and perfected.

Now we have to make a lid with a holder. At the bottom is stamped by the creator, if a well-known master worked, then he leaves a mark on the outside, while in all other cases the brand will be located from the inside. The walls can be decorated with appliqué or carvings.

Heat treatment

You can also be interested in the dishes described in the article. The Isin clay goes to make it. When everything is ready, the kettle can be sent for roasting. In order to exclude sintering, the neck and lid should be sprinkled with powder. The lid is a delicate moment in the making process.

The shrinkage of clay is unique and will depend on a number of factors, so the best fit after firing indicates the level of experience of the master. After firing, the product can be additionally encrusted with metals like gold threads, gold and silver, this is true if the famous master participated in the work.

More about technology

In order to make a tea set from the Ysin clay, you need to prepare a layout drawing, clay, make the product itself, and then burn it and inlay it. According to the masters, the work is rather tedious, it is possible to say, jewelry. It will take up to several weeks. However, there is also a simpler method that is used to make stamped teapots.

The technology consists in the fact that the plaster mold is filled with clay by hand, as a result the kettle will consist of two halves, which are joined, and the seams are ground. After that, the pen and spout are attached. Quite popular among consumers in recent years is the tea described in the article. Isin clay in its composition was previously burned in ancient furnaces. Today, modern equipment is used, which is more efficient. After all, you can control the temperature level in it. But the famous masters still burn their creations in ancient furnaces, following the traditions of their ancestors.

History of creation

The creator of the Isin Teapot is Master Gong Chun, who lived in 1488-1566. He is still called the great sculptor of the "first forms", which today represent a classic. Four other great men with him stood at the origins of the tradition. In the next generation, Li Chung Fang, Shi Da-bin, as well as Xu Yu-chuan, became known who continued and preserved the tradition. Their work was at the end of the Minsk era.

To this day, some of the surviving objects are stored in museums in Europe and China. These masters have laid down an approach in which form, energy, idea and execution are combined. From the very beginning of its existence, kettles from the Ysin clay were sent to the capital of Ninjing, which was considered the center of the cultural elite. It was there and was set a high bar for the creators.

A little more history: about the size and appearance

A set of Isinskaya clay, or rather teapots, since ancient times could be classified in two directions, namely flower and geometric. Masters drew inspiration from nature, using elements of plants and transforming them into shapes.

The geometric variety of such dishes was more spherical and cubic, the products were executed in a strict manner, they had harmonious proportions, clear lines and expressive features. If we compare the sizes of the first teapots with those now unknown, they had an impressive height - up to 30 cm. The raw materials were green, purple and yellow clays.

Conclusion

To date, the mines, which used to be clay, were closed to universal access. To start production it is necessary to obtain a special license at the administrative level. Private warehouses store a huge amount of raw materials that were extracted earlier, and each year its cost increases.

Hard clays, which are the most valuable and contain a huge amount of quartz mica, are deposited in thin layers. Their thickness can reach a limit of 10 cm to 1 m. They can be found at different depths. Layers of violet, yellowish and gray-green shades are called veins of a dragon. They have a different quality, which is affected by many factors.