First in History,Qing Yixing Teapot of  Black Dotted Clay Found in US 清代原矿黑星土紫砂壶在美国首次出现


Abstract 摘要

We believe the 3 Tripod Compass Teapot marked YANG Pengnian of Qing dynasty are of Black Dotted clay raw Ore. However, Black Dotted clay raw ore is extremely rare and teapots made in modern times of claimed Black Dotted clay raw ore or not are of man made by adding manganese particles.

我们认为三把清代杨彭年小周盘壶泥料是传说中的原矿黑星土。但是原矿黑星土是如此稀少,现代制作的号称原矿或非原矿的黑星土都是加锰合成泥料。

Black Dotted Clay: Raw Ore or Man-Made with Manganese?

Black Dotted clay, or Black Star clay or sand,  usually refers to one of the Mixed Purple clays made in the 70-80s, by adding Manganese particles. After firing, it has a characteristic of small black dots on the surface.  If you search the internet with the Chinese phrase 黑星土 or 原矿黑星土, it will show up teapots all over your search results.  They are unanimously all teapots made with mixed purple clays by adding Manganese particles.  The question is does Black Dotted clay of raw ore  ever exist?  Yes, it is said in fact Black Dotted clay of raw ore did exist in the early days (when?).  Only it is just extremely rare and so rare no one have claimed to have seen it. That's the exact reason why Black Dotted clay is one of the two legendary Zisha clays.

黑星砂

黑星砂也称黑星土,为特地从黄龙山底糟青最底层原矿中偶见内含澹墨色细小夹心层集中而成(故直称~黑心土),经数年下来,提取量极少,珍贵稀罕,为喜好珍稀名泥的玩家,千万不可错失的绝世好泥也,它的黏性佳,含铁量高,烧成之后壶身会呈现很多密集的小黑点,这也是黑星土的显著特征。


但是,单一的原矿黑星土产量实在太少了,所以后来紫砂一厂的老艺人拼配出了黑星土这款料。他们是通过添加天然锰粉来调配黑星土泥料,所以千万不要把老一厂的黑星土料归结到化工料这一类。毕竟,天然锰粉的添加历史古来有之。现在市场上常见的黑星土紫砂壶大多以添加金属氧化锰为主,对于新入门的壶友来说还是不碰为好。

简介:黑星砂泥料在早期做壶使用较多,浅棕色含细玄色颗粒、光彩温润讨喜,矿中极品。

  泥性:黏性佳,含石英、云母、赤铁矿的含量特别多,所出产的茶壶会产生非常密集的小熔点,器身显著成双气孔结构,空气对流顺畅气孔对流较好;黑星砂壶冲泡使用,渐露锋芒,养成变化甚大为养壶之最佳教材,在黄龙山脉紫砂中挑选提炼出来的特殊紫砂泥矿,泥色:浅棕色,烧成后黄褐略泛黑光, 此种泥料非常难得稀有,泡茶好喝,评价特好。

  矿区:江苏宜兴丁山黄龙山脉4号井。

  窑温:约1150度C

  收缩比:约11%

  冲泡建议:乌龙茶生茶(轻焙火系列)特好、普洱茶各种系列


Black Dotted Clay artificially made with Manganese

Qing Yixing Tripod Compass Teapot marked YANG Pengnian is of Black Dotted Clay from Raw Ore

In examining my teapot marked YANG Pengnian, I found that the craftsmanship, color and texture of the clay all closely match that from the museum.  We believe this teapot must be a genuine authentic one made in the Qing dynasty by the original author YANG Pengnian.

Upon close examination, I found that its clay is filled with black dots on its surface - characteristics of Black Dotted clay man-made with manganese. Yet it is different and more beautiful. Because man-made Black Dotted clay only happened in the 1970-80s and unlikely happened in the Qing dynasty, we therefore believe this must be of Black Dotted clay  raw ore.

Side by side comparison: left of Black Dotted clay man made with manganese vs right Black Dotted clay Raw Ore

15x magnification Black Dotted clay man made with manganese

15x magnification Black Dotted clay

In summary

We believe the 3 Yixing clay Tripod Compass teapots marked YANG Pengnian are of Black Dotted clay raw ore and the rest of acclaimed Black Dotted clay teapots are of man made by adding with manganese particles.

Here are the sizes of the 3 tripod compass teapot marked YANG Pengnian

This teapot: h60mm, diameter of opening 64mm

The teapot of Shanghai Museum: h37mm, diameter of opening 58mm

The teapot of Huaian Museum: h37cm, diameter of opening 44mm

Reference

顾景舟 《宜兴紫砂珍赏》香港三联书店,1992:87

百度百科 清三足乳鼎扁壶