Two worlds, one artistic philosophy: The shared traditions of Zisha teapot making and crystal glass

At first glance, Zisha teapots from China and Saint-Louis Crystal in France might seem worlds apart. Yet take a closer look and these two centuries-old crafts reveal surprising parallels. Crossing Cultures visited Yixing in eastern China and Saint-Louis-lès-Bitche in northeastern France to uncover the stories behind both these timeless traditions.

Think of China and porcelain probably comes to mind, but the city of Yixing, in the east of the country, is home to a very distinct type of pottery. The city is renowned for its ancient Zisha teapot craft, a tradition steeped in artistry and precision.

Artisan Ke Qinyu exemplifies this heritage. Using a knife instead of a brush, she masterfully blends Chinese calligraphy and painting into her work.

“In traditional Chinese painting, we emphasise the varying shades of ink. Similarly, with our knife, we aim to create the same effect of these varying ink shades through carving. We primarily use the blade of the knife to achieve this,” she says.

The process of crafting a Zisha teapot is painstaking. Only clay sourced from Huanglong Mountain can be used. This is refined before being shaped by hand into elegant forms. Individual parts like the body, lid, and spout are seamlessly assembled. Once complete, the teapot is fired in a kiln, allowing the clay’s natural colours and textures to come to life.

Experts say the clay’s porous quality enhances the flavour of the tea by allowing it to breathe.

“It's easy to brew the tea fully. We think of this teapot as a breathing utensil.

When we brew tea in it, even if we let the tea leaves steep for a long time, the tea won't develop a stale taste,” explains tea specialist Zhou Weiping.

For many, the transformation of a Zisha teapot - from raw earth to