Four Drinking Pigs Yixing Zisha Tea Pet

Many tea drinkers enjoy having “tea pets” on their tea table, for decoration and enjoyment. This cute four pigs tea pet is made of Lao Duan Ni clay, symbolizing happiness and also abundance of food. The four little pigs are like family, searching for food and water near your tea session: a close look shows that their eyes are bright and piercing. Due to the clay’s good breathability and water absorption, extended use will cause the tea pet to become smoother and shinier from absorbed tea liquid over time.

Material

Duan Ni: Duanni, also called Lao Tuanni, is often seen around Huanglong Shan, Yixing, in Jiangsu Province. Aside from being used to make pottery, duanni is often finely ground for use in blends; when fired the clay turns yellow in color, with tiny speckles of red throughout. This type of clay is loose with double air-hole structures within, resulting in smoother cross-ventilation than other types of clay, establishing it as a great choice for usage in teapots.

Origin

Yixing County is known as the Pottery Capital of China for its extensive 6500-year history of the craft. The area boasts abundant resources of argil, tea, bamboo, and charcoal, each of which contributes an important base material for the making of pottery. Yixing Zisha products have earned countless prizes both at home in China as well as abroad, with a few exceptional works presented as national gifts during international diplomacy.