Cinnabar Clay Pagoda Cap Teapot

This teapot traces its lineage to Duanfang (Tao Zhai), a Manchu Bordered White Banner aristocrat and Governor-General of Liangjiang, whose refined taste left an indelible mark on Yixing ware. After his dismissal in 1909 (the first year of the Xuantong era), Duanfang curated the Tao Zhai Museum in Beijing’s Liulichang—and this Pagoda Cap form became one of his most beloved designs. The flat base bears the inscription “Xuantong Yuan Nian Yue Zheng Yuan Ri” (First Year of Xuantong, First Month, Auspicious Day), while the lid interior features two “Tao Zhai” seal impressions.

The piece once belonged to the Hunan Provincial Cultural Relics Store and later entered the renowned K.S. Lo Collection, now housed in the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. Its provenance is impeccably documented—a true heirloom of Yixing history.

• ▸ Historic provenance From Duanfang’s Tao Zhai collection to the K.S. Lo Collection and Hunan Provincial Cultural Relics Store—a clear, unbroken lineage of esteemed ownership.
• ▸ Pagoda Cap form The silhouette resembles a steelyard weight: tapered above, flaring below. An upright straight spout with crisp chamfers, a rounded handle, and a cut‑lid with a beaded finial create a balanced, dignified presence.
• ▸ “Xian Yun” – leisurely clouds Incised on the base, Xian evokes stolen moments of leisure, while Yun captures the ethereal mist rising from tea. Together they paint a scene of unhurried tranquility—a small pot holding ancient charm, a single brew drifting like idle clouds.
• ▸ Cinnabar Clay character Fired to a warm, rich red, the dense clay enhances heat retention and aroma concentration—ideal for oolong, rock tea, and dancong.