This problem is common for purchasing Chinese plates for use or
decoration. If paint is fired first then fired second with glaze then
okay for use. If fired together then decorative. If fired painted
and unglazed then decorative. If paint on glaze then decorative.
Normally packaging will indicate decorative only. I came across a
Chinese site for Yixing and the only English for one of the pots
'drink emergency required'. Yixing historically has been exported to
other countries for Western market 'finishing'. So glaze and paint
indicate a second stop.

Jim

Michael Plant wrote in message ...
Space 9/23/04


I'm thinking of fired glazed "Yixing clay" which too me would be an
anomaly. There is no reason to glaze Yixing in any application. The
only source of lead in pottery is Chinese paint. That's a known
problem which needs glazing. In Chinatown I see Yixing sets of pot,
cup, tray with no glazing. I think where there is glaze there is
paint and a fake. Possibly in a commercial application such as a
restaurant you might find glazed Yixing but I'd still think a fake. I
could take any greenware, apply purple Chinese paint, fire and glaze
for a 'glazed' Yixing look. The glaze is important not for health
reason but to prevent scratching revealing nonYixing substrate. You
can usually see signs of painting at bases of cups,pots,bowls,trays.


Taking off from Jim's thoughts about lead, it is important to note:

If a component of a pot, be it clay or glaze or oxides painted under or over
the glaze, contains lead which is not fritted (stablized) then the person
who drinks from or eats from that pot is in danger of exposure to the lead.
Glaze will not protect. There are reasons which are technical. Alaric will
explain if need be.

Michael

That's absolutely right. Many people coming to know tea think that all clay
teapots are made Zisha. It really isn't so. There are several types of
Yixing clay, and Zisha is the most common and popular amongst them. When
the popularity of the Yixing clay rose with the demand for its pots,
quarries in the neighbouring regions are also mined for clay as close to
soil structure as Yixing. To achieve the success in the final products,
other minerals - iron is the common ingredient - is added to the clay to
give it a richer colour and sturdier texture.

The sandy rock is mined and broken into clumps, which is then mixed with
water into a clay-like putty and then set to work. Sometimes to achieve the
required 'feel' of the pot, the clay putty is set aside for up to several
decades before it's taken out to work on.

Samar.

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
. ..
You all assume that Zisha = teapot, which it is not. Zisha is "Yixing
clay".
I put it in "" because it is actually not clay but a paste that is made
from
a clayish sandy rock that is found in Yixing, China.. And while there is
no
point of glazing teapots (chahu), there are zisha gaiwans, chabeis,
wenxiangbeis, chahai and other "zisha teaware", besides teapots (chahu).

Sasha.

"Falky foo" wrote in message
. com...
I don't really get the point of glazing zisha either. Maybe a glazed
outside but then you wouldn't be worried about the lead leaching into
the
tea would you?

And since I like to see my tea against a white background when I'm
drinking
it, I don't buy zisha cups anyhow, just plain ceramic.


"Space Cowboy" wrote in message
om...
When did glazed zisha become en vogue. It's been a while but mine are
unglazed. Even my generic red terracotta pots are unglazed. If
someone is selling me glazed zisha I'd suspect the origin. I know
Chinese pottery paint has lead but that is normally glazed over making
safe for use. You can have a glaze with Chinese paint on top and that
is an absolute no-no for use only decorative.

Jim

"Falky foo" wrote in message
...
Those were glazed zisha cups.. I'd avoid glazed ware from China and
India.

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
.. .
Recently it was found that Hong Kong Consumer counsul that some
Chinse
Zisha
cracle-glazed teaware contacins dangerous amounts of lead.
Beware.


http://www.consumer.org.hk/website/w...ases/p242.html

Sasha.

That's absolutely right. Many people coming to know tea think that all clay
teapots are made Zisha. It really isn't so. There are several types of
Yixing clay, and Zisha is the most common and popular amongst them. When
the popularity of the Yixing clay rose with the demand for its pots,
quarries in the neighbouring regions are also mined for clay as close to
soil structure as Yixing. To achieve the success in the final products,
other minerals - iron is the common ingredient - is added to the clay to
give it a richer colour and sturdier texture.

The sandy rock is mined and broken into clumps, which is then mixed with
water into a clay-like putty and then set to work. Sometimes to achieve the
required 'feel' of the pot, the clay putty is set aside for up to several
decades before it's taken out to work on.

Samar.

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
. ..
You all assume that Zisha = teapot, which it is not. Zisha is "Yixing
clay".
I put it in "" because it is actually not clay but a paste that is made
from
a clayish sandy rock that is found in Yixing, China.. And while there is
no
point of glazing teapots (chahu), there are zisha gaiwans, chabeis,
wenxiangbeis, chahai and other "zisha teaware", besides teapots (chahu).

Sasha.

"Falky foo" wrote in message
. com...
I don't really get the point of glazing zisha either. Maybe a glazed
outside but then you wouldn't be worried about the lead leaching into
the
tea would you?

And since I like to see my tea against a white background when I'm
drinking
it, I don't buy zisha cups anyhow, just plain ceramic.


"Space Cowboy" wrote in message
om...
When did glazed zisha become en vogue. It's been a while but mine are
unglazed. Even my generic red terracotta pots are unglazed. If
someone is selling me glazed zisha I'd suspect the origin. I know
Chinese pottery paint has lead but that is normally glazed over making
safe for use. You can have a glaze with Chinese paint on top and that
is an absolute no-no for use only decorative.

Jim

"Falky foo" wrote in message
...
Those were glazed zisha cups.. I'd avoid glazed ware from China and
India.

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
.. .
Recently it was found that Hong Kong Consumer counsul that some
Chinse
Zisha
cracle-glazed teaware contacins dangerous amounts of lead.
Beware.


http://www.consumer.org.hk/website/w...ases/p242.html

Sasha.