矮井栏壶

English working translation

The "Short Well-Curb Teapot"

The "Short Well-Curb Teapot" was created by Gu Jingzhou in his later years. He critically absorbed the stylistic characteristics of Chen Mansheng's "Longevity Inscription Well-Curb Teapot," with the body taking the form of a cylinder that is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, full and rounded, elegantly spherical, with flowing lines. The lid rises slightly, forming a smooth curved line where it meets the body—a technique executed with masterful skill that adds layers to the teapot's form. The spout connects seamlessly with the body, with smooth and unobstructed flow of energy; the tip of the spout is slightly pointed and drooping, creating a lively and spirited effect. In 1989, two of Gu Jingzhou's "Short Well-Curb Teapots" were created in collaboration with renowned artists of the Jinling School of Painting, Wei Zixuan and Ya Ming respectively. The one created with Wei Zixuan bears the inscription "Divine Charm Naturally Formed" on the front, with "Pine and Rock Longevity" painted on the reverse. Under his brush, ancient pines and towering peaks emerge with vigor and elegance, displaying both robust vitality and vigorous charm. The one created with Ya Ming has "Green Pine Has No Splendor" inscribed on the front, with an inscription engraved on the bottom: "The teapot existed since pre-Qin times. Yixing purple clay began in the Ming Zhengde period, nearly five hundred years to the present, with no more than a dozen masters. Brother Gu Jingzhou should be considered a modern master; Gu's teapots embody the philosophical spirit of Chinese civilization, literary atmosphere, and the divine charm of painting."

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[1] Xiao Jianmin, ed., Research on Chen Mansheng (Hangzhou: Xiling Seal Engravers' Society Press, November 2011), p. 129.