Xiao Xishi yixing clay woodfired teapot # 94774

Without a photo or maker’s provenance the exact proportions of this piece may be ambiguous; the name 小西施壶 literally means “Small Xishi teapot” and signals a diminutive version of the traditional Xishi form.

Brief history: The Xishi shape takes its name from Xishi, one of China’s legendary Four Beauties, and is one of the classical forms in the Yixing (Zisha) teapot repertoire that became especially popular from the late Ming into the Qing dynasty and thereafter. Craftsmen invoked poetic names like Xishi to signal elegance and refined taste; the form has been repeatedly reinterpreted by different ateliers and artists over centuries. Small Xishi examples are commonly used in gongfu tea practice because their modest capacity concentrates flavor and heat management.

Note about the shape: The Xishi family is known for graceful, restrained lines and a sense of balanced proportion. A “small Xishi” typically presents compact, gently rounded or slightly flattened body, a well‑fitting low lid, a short curved spout and a comfortable loop handle—emphasizing silhouette and hand feel rather than ornament. Such pots are valued for tactile comfort, harmonious aesthetics, and suitability for single‑session brewing.
Wood-fired handmade Yixing teapot made from Duanni clay sourced from the original Huanglongshan mine. Xu Shun Wei.