This teapot came out of a firing performed during the time of the pandemic. It is the work of Mr. Zhang, a young potter from Taichung who studied under Bai Zong-Ping and spent many years at Lin's Ceramics beforehand. He now runs his own studio. Many of you can now appreciate the high precision of his craftsmanship as he has garnered somewhat of a following on Taiwan Tea Crafts. This flater 150 ml pot is easy to handle, well-balanced and features a short straight spout with a generous diameter for quick pours as is customary in the art of Taiwanese-style tea making. As with all of M. Zhang's work, the shape and execution are flawless right down to the fit of the lid and the alignment of spout, handle and lid knob. The higer set handle makes for good ergonomics and secure handling of the pot. Its proportions and 200 ml size along with its thicker 4 mm wall-thickness make it a perfect vessel for gongfu style tea-making intended for small gatherings. It shines with darker, baked or charcoal-fired oolong teas, but should not be shunned for greener or more fragrant brews like high mountain blacks as this pot features a blend of local Miaoli fine grit clay and super fine porcelain from Japan. The end material is dense with very low porosity that doesn't dull more fragrant teas. A sibling of this pot is used on a daily basis to make our morning black teas with great success. Finally, about the finish, the shades of this pot are the result of the high temperatures achieved during the firing process and features nice glossy golden patches and dark blue hues around the spout and front of the pot. The pot also adorns a beautifully uniform lustrous sheen. These aesthetic characteristics are purely accidental and the result of elements fusing during the firing process. Needless to say, this pot uniquel. What you see in the pictures is what you will get. Handmade in Taiwan.