{"product_id":"yixing-shihuang-bafang-250ml","title":"Shihuang Bafang Yixing Teapot - 250ml | Stone Yellow Clay","description":"\u003cp\u003eA 250ml Bafang (eight-facet) teapot in family-stored Shihuang (stone yellow) clay, made in Yixing using mold-assisted shaping with hand-finishing. Shihuang is a rare and technically demanding clay — high iron content, very low plasticity, and a firing success rate of around 30%. The fired result has a distinctive iron-like density and surface quality. Comes with a gift box and collector's certificate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Shape\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBafang means \"eight directions.\" The pot body is octagonal, with eight flat faces meeting at clean, well-defined ridges. The lid mirrors the body's geometry. The form achieves what good angular Yixing work aims for: surfaces that are flat without looking mechanical, edges that are crisp without being harsh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bafang is one of the more demanding forms to execute cleanly — flat faces and straight ridges leave no room for imprecision in fitting or finishing. The lid-to-body seal, the spout junction, the handle alignment: each joint is visible and must be right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Clay\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily-stored Shihuang clay (家藏石黄泥):\u003c\/strong\u003e Shihuang — \"stone yellow\" — is an uncommon Yixing clay with an iron content significantly higher than most Yixing materials, estimated at five times the typical level. This shapes both how the clay behaves during making and what the finished pot looks and feels like.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn raw form, the clay is soft with very low plasticity — it tears easily during shaping and is prone to cracking before and during firing. The maker of this pot has worked with Shihuang clay for over twenty years. A successful firing rate of approximately 30% is considered a high achievement for this material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fired color depends on kiln temperature:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLower temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e deep matte black\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigher temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e rich purple-sandalwood (紫檀) tone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surface carries what Chinese potters describe as 玄铁质感 — a dark iron quality, dense and mineral. It is unlike the surface of any standard Yixing clay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne practical note: Shihuang clay has a high shrinkage rate during firing — approximately 35% by volume and 18% by diameter. The finished pot is considerably smaller than the pre-fired form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShihuang clay is also noted for a water-softening effect attributed to its high iron content. Users frequently observe a rounder, smoother quality in the tea compared to what they get from other clay types.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's Included\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTeapot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGift box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollector's certificate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCapacity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250ml ± 10ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiameter 12.5cm · H 9cm · Opening 4.7cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater outlet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMesh filter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMold-assisted shaping, hand-finished\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYixing, Jiangsu, China\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat to Brew\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 250ml, this is a relaxed two-person pot. Shihuang clay's mineral density and water-softening properties suit teas with depth and structure — \u003cstrong\u003eaged pu-erh\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eripe pu-erh\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eWuyi rock tea\u003c\/strong\u003e are all natural pairings. The angular Bafang form suits teas brewed at a measured pace, where the visual weight of the pot matches the deliberateness of the session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeasoning Your New Pot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRinse inside and out with boiling water two or three times before first use. Brew a session with your intended tea, discarding the first steeping. After each use, empty, remove the lid, and allow to dry naturally in open air. Shihuang clay's dense surface seasons gradually — use consistently with the same tea type for the most coherent development over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Note on Color\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll product photos are taken of the actual item. Colors may appear slightly different on your screen due to lighting conditions and monitor calibration. Shihuang clay in particular varies in fired color depending on kiln temperature — the color of your specific pot will be consistent with the product photos, but subtle variation in tone is inherent to this material and not a quality issue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExplore the full range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Return to the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/collections\/teapots\"\u003eTeapots collection\u003c\/a\u003e to see all Yixing teapots currently available.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Orientaleaf","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58647329931567,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0848\/4854\/1999\/files\/01-shihuang-bafang-yixing-teapot-front.jpg?v=1791953261","url":"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/ar\/products\/yixing-shihuang-bafang-250ml","provider":"Orientaleaf","version":"1.0","type":"link"}