Yixing zisha 宜興紫砂 gourd teapot, mark of Xiang Meijuan, Chinese pottery; Description: Xiang Meijuan Chinese brown stoneware, decorated with carved flowers on branches, with naturalistic branch form spout, handle and lid finial, carved seal to underside, two character mark to lid interior. Height: 5 inches = 12.7 cm; Length: 6 inches = 15.24 cm; Width: 4 inches = 10.16 cm; Weight: 288 g = 10 oz. Condition Report: Good, small chip to inner rim of cover, no cracks or repairs observed. Provenance: Asian works of art from a New York scholar's collection. References: Yixing clay (simplified Chinese: 宜兴泥; traditional Chinese: 宜興泥; pinyin: Yíxīng ní; Wade–Giles: I-Hsing ni) is a type of clay from the region near the city of Yixing in Jiangsu Province, China, used in Chinese pottery since the Song dynasty (960–1279) when Yixing clay was first mined around China's Lake Tai. From the 17th century on, Yixing wares were commonly exported to Europe. The finished stoneware, which is used for tea ware and other small items, is usually red or brown in colour. Also known as zisha (宜興紫砂) ware, they are typically left unglazed and use clays that are very cohesive and can form coils, slabs and most commonly slip casts. These clays can also be formed by throwing. The best known wares made from Yixing clay are Yixing clay teapots, tea pets, and other tea-ware.