Yellow ClayTeapot - The Dragon is Watching # 96170

The Dragon Relief teapot places a frontal dragon across its rounded body, with cloud motifs continuing around the sides and lid. A broad handle, lifted lid knob and clearly projecting spout make the pot practical to hold and pour while keeping the relief central to the display.

This is a decorative Yixing teapot rather than a form with a securely documented individual history. Its use follows gongfu tradition: warm the pot, add tea, pour in brief infusions and return the lid after each pour to preserve heat.

Yixing, Jiangsu, is known for zisha pottery, and the yellow clay here has a warm ochre-brown tone with visible granular texture and sharply modelled ornament. Rinse it with water only, then leave the lid ajar until the interior is completely dry.