World's most expensive teapot

In 2011, a set of Yixing teapot with 5 cups and saucers was auctioned for a record 17.82 millions yuan in a Chinese auction house (read news in Chinese below). This is the world's most expensive teapot and cups. This record price for a teapot set was indeed a big surprise to many as only imperial ceramics and rare paintings could fetch such prices in auctions. The local press even reported that with over 17 million, one can buy a good bungalow in a big city, yet there were people who traded a bungalow for 11  pieces of pottery work. What made the news even more astonishing is that it came at a time where prices of Yixing wares were heading south with bad news of poison clay used in the industry, forgery and fake teapots, depletion of good clay and black market manipulation. The whole pottery industry looked set to collapse as local TV stations and press reported daily cases where chemicals were used to brighten up the fake clay used in the industry, forgery in the names of potters appeared on the pots and wide spread use of hired hand to fake masters' work. The reputation of Yixing wares was so badly tarnished that customers and investors stay clear of Yixing wares. However, the record-breaking news of this Yixing teapot with cups brought back life and glamour to the pottery industry in Yixing. People begin to realise that only good and genuine Yixing wares will stand the test of time and their values can only appreciate with time.


The world's most expensive teapot and cups

This is no ordinary teapot and the potter is no ordinary person either. In fact the potter is the first person in Yixing to be awarded the highest title in the trade, National Grand Master in Yixing pottery. He was the legendary Gu Zingzhou, the master of all masters. The shape of the teapot was conceptualised many years ago when a certain professor from a university met up with Gu in the Yixing factory. After many years of modification and alteration, the teapot design was finally firmed up to take the present form. This teapot set was actually kept as a display set in the factory. It was auctioned off as the factory was in need of hard cash for upgrading and renovation work. Since then there were no less than 9 pieces of Gu's works auctioned for over 10 millions yuan each. If you visit China these days, the tour guides often ask you if you ever possess a Gu's teapot. If you have a Gu's teapot, most likely it will worth millions in today's market. But don't be carried away, most of the teapots that bear Gu's name on them are not genuine, they are fakes. With such high value on his works, there will definitely be unscrupulous businessmen or potters who want to get rich fast by imitating  the master's work. So beware of fake Gu Zingzhou teapots, they will damage your finances. 



Gu Zingzhou and his monk's hat

Another similar pot auctioned for over 8 millions

Gu Zingzhou at work

Gu's pot for 8.28 millions

Gu's pot auctioned for 14.9 millions in 2013

Record-breaking news in Chinese

1782.5万元！这是紫砂壶拍卖的最新世界纪录，就在刚刚结束的北京保利2011秋季拍卖会上，由顾景舟提璧组壶(共计十一件)创造。顾景舟的提璧组壶(共11件)以1782.5万元的价格拔得“中国当代高端工艺品紫砂壶专场”的头筹。这组提璧组壶原为宜兴紫砂博物馆收藏。顾景舟通自己的制作将紫砂润如珠、温如玉的特征淋漓尽致地表现出来。

在今年的秋季拍卖会上，各艺术品拍卖公司纷纷推出紫砂壶拍卖专场。看似热闹的市场里面，也不是所有的紫砂壶都成交，总的来说，老紫砂壶无论是成交价格还是成交率都要强于当代紫砂壶。

顾景舟原名景洲，江苏宜兴川埠上袁村人，生前为中国工艺美术大师，紫砂界尊称为当代“壶艺泰斗”。(山日)