A 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.
The Shape
Bafang 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.
The 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.
The Clay
Family-stored Shihuang clay (家藏石黄泥): 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.
In 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.
The fired color depends on kiln temperature:
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Lower temperature: deep matte black
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Higher temperature: rich purple-sandalwood (紫檀) tone
The 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.
One 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.
Shihuang 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.
What's Included
- Teapot
- Gift box
- Collector's certificate
Specifications
| Capacity |
250ml ± 10ml |
| Dimensions |
Diameter 12.5cm · H 9cm · Opening 4.7cm |
| Water outlet |
Mesh filter |
| Construction |
Mold-assisted shaping, hand-finished |
| Origin |
Yixing, Jiangsu, China |
What to Brew
At 250ml, this is a relaxed two-person pot. Shihuang clay's mineral density and water-softening properties suit teas with depth and structure — aged pu-erh, ripe pu-erh, and Wuyi rock tea 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.
Seasoning Your New Pot
Rinse 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.
A Note on Color
All 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.
Explore the full range: Return to the Teapots collection to see all Yixing teapots currently available.
