Well before the pandemic, we commissioned and sold a series of gaiwans, pots, cups and accessories made by from Master Zhang from rugged pumice clay and fired in a gas oven. These were very popular and sold out quickly. Our good friend then asked: ”what if we tried wood-firing them?” This pot is one of many stemming from this experiment conducted at the start of the pandemic. Aesthetically, the result stunned both of us. We didn't expect such a rugged scorched look but after putting a sample through the rounds of making tea, we were both falling for this Iron Flare finish. Mr. Zhang, a young potter from Taichung who studied under Bai Zong-Ping and 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. The stunning finish stems from using pure pumice enriched clay which fused into a highly textured oxidized finish resembling molten iron. These aesthetic characteristics are purely accidental and the result of elements fusing during the firing process. The material is dense but offers a good porosity making it a perfect vessel for gongfu style tea-making intended for darker, baked or charcoal-fired oolong teas. We've also tried it with our our morning fragrant black teas with great success. The 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. Needless to say, this pot uniquel. What you see in the pictures is what you will get. Handmade in Taiwan.