How to identify the quality of teapot

1. If the color is overly bright and unnatural, it may be a sign of added chemicals. Real Zisha clay has a natural, muted hue.

2. A genuine Zisha teapot should feel heavy in your hand. Fake ones are often lightweight and thin.

3. Avoid pots with strange or unnatural colors like bright green or red. These often indicate chemical additives.

4. Be cautious if a pot looks perfect before being used. A well-aged Zisha teapot usually has a more organic appearance.

5. The raw ore particles should be clearly visible. If they’re hidden or covered, it might mean the pot was made with added materials.

6. Genuine Zisha teapots often have impurities, such as small black specks. These are natural and unevenly distributed. If a pot looks too clean or uniform, it may be fake.

7. A real Zisha teapot should have a grainy texture. The particles in authentic clay are uneven and natural, while those in chemically treated teapots tend to look artificial and "floating."

8. Tap the pot gently and listen to the sound. A real Zisha teapot produces a deep, resonant "clink," whereas a porcelain-like sound suggests it's not genuine.

9. Breathability alone isn’t enough to determine authenticity. Some synthetic materials can also be porous.

Identifying real vs. fake Zisha teapots requires attention to detail. For antique pieces, common fakes include those coated with shoe polish to look aged or acid-treated to mimic old patina. Newer fakes often involve forged seals or imitations of famous styles.

To spot a real Zisha teapot, look at its color and weight. Authentic Zisha has a rich, purple tone that becomes more lustrous over time. New teapots tend to be duller and may have been waxed for shine. In terms of calligraphy, old Zisha teapots typically feature neat Yangwen script, while fakes may have rigid or inconsistent strokes. If a pot claims to be old but has modern-style engraving, it’s likely a reproduction.