An analysis of the chemical composition, performance and structure of China Yixing Zisha pottery from 1573 A.D. to 1911 A.D.

Yixing Zisha pottery is one of the most representative and influential traditional tea sets in ancient and even contemporary China. Chemical and phase composition, microstructure and performance of Yixing Zisha pottery samples from the late Ming Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty (1573 A.D.–1911 A.D.) unearthed for the first time in the Shushan Mountain Zisha pottery kiln sites in the western and southern hills of Shushan Mountain, Dingshu Town, Yixing City, China, were systematically analyzed. The chemical composition variations of Yixing Zisha pottery of the above-mentioned periods were studied. Porous structure of Yixing Zisha pottery body was discovered and the relationships among the unique performance of Yixing Zisha pottery, its raw material and the special technological process were discussed.