Hand-Painted Underglaze Blue & Copper Red Teapot Stand (Hucheng)

Original Ore Minerals | 1350°C Reduction Firing | Yu Qi Studio (Yu Jiang Nan) | 16.6cm

“One color enters the kiln; ten thousand emerge. A masterpiece of fire and copper red.”

At ZENTAOEAST, we cherish the “Handmade Temperature”—the subtle, living energy that can only be captured by a master’s hand. This Underglaze Blue and Copper Red Teapot Stand (Hucheng) is a premier work by Master Cao Yi, the founder of Yu Qi Studio (昱器陶瓷), also known by the evocative name Yu Jiang Nan (昱江南). Master Cao is a specialist in the most temperamental of all ceramic arts: the elusive Copper Red.

The Alchemy: The Temperamental Copper Red

Underglaze Red (Youlihong) is notoriously difficult to master. Master Cao insists on using original ore copper red glaze without chemical stabilizers, embracing a process where the kiln’s fire is the final artist.

• The 30% Success Rate: Copper red is extremely sensitive; a temperature fluctuation of just 10°C can cause the color to turn black or fade to white. In Master Cao’s studio, fewer than 30 out of every 100 pieces survive the fire with the desired brilliance.

• Kiln Mutation (Yao Bian): Because no stabilizers are used, every Teapot Stand (Hucheng) is a unique artifact. The red is never flat or industrial; it is a rich, atmospheric gradient that shifts and flows—a “Living Red” that no two collectors will ever share.

The Artistry: “Dian Gong” Point-Painting

The intricate motifs are created through “Dian Gong” (点工)—a painstaking hand-painting process involving fine stippling and rhythmic line work:

• The Base: Intertwining Lotus (Chán Zhī Lián). Rendered in Underglaze Red, the full lotus blossoms and curling vines are hand-dotted to create organic layers of depth and texture.

• The Interior Walls: Scrolling Grass (Juǎn Cǎo). A classic “Scroll” pattern in Underglaze Blue frames the central lotus. Unlike “Industrial Blue,” Master Cao’s cobalt blue possesses a natural flow, with some areas firing to a deep violet and others a pale azure, creating a vibrant, antique aesthetic.

The Signature: Yu Jiang Nan Cao Yi Zhi

The base of the Teapot Stand (Hucheng) features a hand-painted seal script (Zhuanshu) mark in underglaze blue: “昱江南曹毅制” (Yu Jiang Nan Cao Yi Zhi). This mark—”Crafted by Cao Yi of Yu Jiang Nan”—is a guarantee of the artist’s personal supervision and a seal of quality for the discerning collector.

Curator’s Verdict

“The Teapot Stand (Hucheng) is a celebration of ‘Perfect Imperfection.’ Master Cao Yi’s refusal to use stabilizers is a brave choice; it means he loses 70% of his work to the fire. But the pieces that endure have a soul and a ‘vibration’ that chemical glazes can never replicate. The marriage of the fiery Copper Red and the tranquil Blue Scrolling Grass creates a generous and dignified stage for your teapot. It is a vessel that breathes with the history of Jingdezhen.”

— Richard Zhang, Founding Curator