Frosted horizontal kettle yixing clay woodfired teapot # 94806

The Chinese name 磨砂水平壶 can be read literally as “matte (or sanded) horizontal teapot.” I can’t confirm that “水平壶” is a single fixed canonical form across all historical sources, so this description treats the name as indicating a low, horizontally oriented teapot finished with a matte surface.

Brief history: Teapots of this type belong to the long Chinese tradition of small, hand-oriented brewing vessels—most familiarly associated with Yixing (zisha) wares from Jiangsu province—which developed many named shapes through the Ming and Qing periods and later. Artisans have historically varied silhouette, proportion and surface treatment to suit different brewing styles and aesthetic tastes. Matte or “sanded” finishes may be achieved by surface abrasion, special firing techniques or by leaving the clay unglazed; while some matte treatments are modern, unglazed textured surfaces have precedents in older Chinese ceramics and continue to be appreciated for their tactile quality.

Shape note: The implied “horizontal” profile suggests a low, wide body with the spout–handle axis parallel to the table, producing a stable, balanced pour. Such a silhouette gives good room for leaf expansion, a short, controlled spout action, and an intimate handheld feel; the matte surface adds grip and a restrained, elegant appearance.

Wood-fired handmade Yixing teapot made from Duanni clay sourced from the original Huanglongshan mine. Xu Shun Wei.