The title of "Old Artists," compared to the commonly used "Masters" today, may seem less formal. However, in the 1950s, it was a great honor bestowed by the government to Yixing pottery artists.In 1956, the Jiangsu Provincial Government appointed seven renowned Yixing pottery artists, namely Gu Jingzhou, Ren Ganting, Pei Shimin, Wu Yungen, Wang Yinchun, Zhu Kexin, and Jiang Rong, as technical mentors to initiate the training and inheritance of the new generation of Yixing pottery artists.
They were known as the "Seven Masters " in the Yixing pottery community.Looking up requires a foundation, and these seven monuments collectively converge into a grand feast of Yixing teapot art and a legendary era. Even in the diversified landscape of Yixing pottery culture today, the "Seven Masters" still hold an unshakable position.
Gu Jingzhou (1915-1996)
As a master of plain and unadorned teapots, Gu Jingzhou was a renowned figure and a member of the China Artists Association as well as a Chinese Arts and Crafts Master. From a young age, he dedicated himself to the creation of Yixing teapots and learned the craft from his grandmother, a descendant of Shao Da Xiang. Through diligent practice and honing of his skills, he quickly established himself as one of the leading artists in the field of Yixing pottery.
Chunky Belly by Gu
In the late 1930s, Gu Jingzhou moved to Shanghai to produce antique-style teapots. In 1954, he joined the Shushan Pottery Cooperative in Yixing. In 1956, he was appointed as a technical mentor by the Jiangsu Provincial Government, and he mentored several apprentices including Xu Hantang, Gao Haigeng, Li Changhong, Shen Juhua, Shu Fengying, and Wu Qunxiang. Throughout his life, Gu participated in three National Arts and Crafts Conferences and his influence extended to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and some Southeast Asian regions. He was widely recognized as a "Doyen of Pottery Art" both domestically and internationally. He extensively studied the fine works of Yixing pottery from different eras, delved into the related craftsmanship and techniques, and also had knowledge in calligraphy, painting, epigraphy, seal carving, and archaeology. With his rich cultural literacy and refined teapot-making skills, he developed a unique artistic style in his Yixing pottery creations.
Big Beamed Pot by Gu
Gu Jingzhou primarily focused on producing teapots, with a shift from square-shaped vessels in his youth to a combination of square and round shapes. As he interacted with the world of calligraphy and painting, he gradually emphasized the creation of plain and unadorned teapot forms. Eventually, he established his personal artistic direction by creating geometric-shaped teapots. His works are characterized by their simple and elegant overall form, robust and meticulous structure, smooth and harmonious lines, profound and meaningful artistic depth, and a rich expression of Eastern artistic characteristics.
Squirrel Set by Gu
Ren Ganting (1889-1968)
In his early years, Ren Ganting only received three years of education in a private school. However, he was extremely diligent and eager to learn. He often used tree branches as makeshift brushes and practiced painting and calligraphy on the ground, earning him a reputation as a prodigy among the local people.
Vases Carved by Ren
At the age of 15, Ren Ganting studied Yixing pottery carving techniques under the renowned Yixing woodcarving and painting artist Lu Lanfang. After completing his apprenticeship, he primarily engaged in pottery carving and painting at the Taoist pottery shop of Wu Desheng in Yixing city. Following the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, he focused on carving Yixing pottery and was employed by Shunyu Pottery Factory. In 1955, he returned to the artistic community and joined the Shushan Pottery Cooperative, where he served as a supervisor. In 1956, he was appointed as a technical mentor by the Jiangsu Provincial Government and was elected as a member of the Jiangsu Provincial Political Consultative Conference.
Pen Holder Carved by Ren
Ren Ganting had a lifelong passion for painting and calligraphy and dedicated himself to the study of Yixing pottery carving art. He inherited the artistic traditions from renowned Yixing artists and calligraphers of the late Qing Dynasty, such as Chen Maosheng, Chen Yanqing, Shen Ruitian, and Lu Lanfang. He also passed on his knowledge to contemporary pottery carving masters such as Xu Xiu Tang, Tan Quanhai, Mao Guoqiang, Bao Zhiqiang, Shen Hansheng, Xian Zhongying, and Bao Zhongmei. His Yixing pottery works mainly followed a traditional style, with a wide range of themes and diverse forms. His paintings included landscapes, flowers and birds, figures, and ancient motifs. In calligraphy, he excelled in various script styles, including regular script, cursive script, seal script, oracle bone script, and bronze script. One of his remarkable abilities was the symmetrical execution of floral, bird, landscape, and pattern paintings using either his left or right hand when writing on the pottery.
Exterior Caving by Ren
Wu Yungen (1892-1969)
At the age of 14, Wu Yungen began learning pottery making techniques from Wang Chunrong, along with his fellow apprentices Wang Baogen and Zhu Kexin. In 1915, he was introduced to Pingming Pottery Factory in Pingding County, Shanxi Province, by the Jiangsu Yixing Pottery Company. He worked there as a technician for three years, during which he not only taught the shaping techniques of Yixing pottery but also experimented with firing Jun-style Yixing pottery with charcoal glaze. He became one of the outstanding representatives of Yixing pottery art in the modern era, spreading the techniques of Yixing pottery to the outside world.
Piggy Pot by Wu
Wu Yungen was known for his humility, generosity, and exemplary character. His works reflected his honest and unpretentious personality. Many students achieved great success in the field of Yixing pottery under his guidance. Renowned contemporary teapot masters such as Lv Yaochen, Wu Zhen, He Tingchu, and Ge Mingxian were all his apprentices. Wang Yinxian, who was initially mentored by Wu Yungen, recommended him to his own apprentice Zhu Kexin for further studies.
Stem Pot By Wu
Wu Yungen was actively involved in formal teaching at the academy and placed great emphasis on the observational skills in Yixing pottery art. He particularly focused on capturing the forms of bamboo and attained a high level of mastery in this area. He excelled in creating light-colored pottery and pieces with delicate patterns, infusing his replicas of traditional products with innovative elements, earning him the reputation of being "exquisite and extraordinary."
Castle Pot By Wu
Pei Shiming (1892-1979)
Born in Shushan Town, Yixing, he received a few years of education in a private school. At the age of 15, he left school and began learning pottery from his brother-in-law, Jiang Zuchen, dedicating himself to the art of Yixing pottery. He changed his name from Demin to Shimin with the intention of aligning it more closely with the world of Yixing pottery. After mastering the art, at the age of 22, he joined Liyong Pottery Company to craft Yixing pottery, quickly gaining recognition in the industry for his exquisite and delicate creations. He earned the nickname "Chen Mingyuan the Second" for his refined and elegant works.
In 1923, Pei Shiming created a lid for the "Gongchun Teapot" in the collection of the renowned Yixing scholar Chu Nanqiang. In 1924, he successfully crafted a tray to accompany the "Shengsi Peach Cup" also owned by Chu Nanqiang. Both of these works hold significant historical significance in the history of Yixing pottery. Pei Shiming's representative works include the Qinzhong Jar with Linked Lids, the Tripod Jar with Three Feet, the Plain-bodied Round-skirt Teapot, the Plum-section Teapot, the Pine-section Teapot, and the Bat and Peach Jar. His works mainly consist of medium and small-sized pieces, with several variations of each style, ranging from two or three to five or six pieces. With a discerning eye and profound artistic cultivation, Pei Shiming created pottery with ancient and perfect forms, establishing his unique position in the realm of Yixing pottery.
Pine Chunk Pot by Pei
Wang Yinchun (1897-1977)
He was born in Shangcun, Chuanbu Township, Yixing. Coming from a poor family, he was unable to attend school. At the age of 13, he became an apprentice to the renowned Yixing potter Jin Ashou, initiating his journey in the art of teapot making. After three years of apprenticeship, he began working as a master potter, helping kiln owners with clay preparation. In 1921, due to his exceptional clay preparation skills, he gained long-term commissions from clients in Shanghai to create various horizontal teapots, establishing his reputation in the city. In 1935, he went to Shanghai to replicate antique Yixing teapots for the antique dealer Gong Huaixi, which exposed him to exquisite Yixing teapots from the Ming and Qing dynasties. He successfully reproduced works by renowned authors such as Chen Mingyuan, Xu Youquan, Chen Guangming, and Chen Ziqi.
Six Petal Pot By Wang
Wang Yinchun was recognized as a model laborer by the province in 1959 and 1960. He mentored two groups of apprentices and was entrusted with the production of gifts for national leaders' overseas visits. Wang Yinchun was a highly respected master dedicated to the art of teapot making. Each of his Yixing teapots exhibited a distinctive personality and showcased his exceptional craftsmanship. His representative works include the Yaming Square Teapot, the Hexagonal Diamond Teapot, the Plum Blossom Round Tray, and the Flower Jar with a Lifting Handle. Even at the age of 74, he continued to create teapots, exemplifying the noble spirit of "endless life, ceaseless creation."
Plum Tall Pot
Zhu Kexin (1904-1986)
He was born in Shushan Town, Yixing. Originally named Kaichang, he adopted the artistic name "Kexin," which means "those who are humble and open-minded can be teachers." It also carries the meaning of "a cup of water in the mountains can cleanse the heart of the world." Zhu Kexin had deep artistic accomplishments and comprehensive skills in teapot making. He was renowned as a master of Yixing pottery and was considered one of the great teapot artists of his time.
Pine\Bamboo\Plum
At the age of 14, Zhu Kexin became an apprentice to Wang Shengyi. In 1931, he was employed as a technician and instructor at the Yixing Ceramic Vocational School. His work "Cloud Dragon Tripod" won the "Special First Prize" at the Chicago World's Fair in the United States. In 1954, he was entrusted with establishing the Shushan Pottery Cooperative, one of the founding members of the Yixing Purple Clay Craft Factory. In 1956, he was appointed as a technical advisor by the Jiangsu Provincial Government. He mentored dozens of apprentices and participated in the National Congress of Folk Artists in 1957. In the 1960s and 1970s, he designed hundreds of new teapot models, which were collected by major museums both domestically and internationally.
Cloud Dragon Set by Zhu
Zhu Kexin had comprehensive skills and a broad range of creative themes. He explored various forms such as teapots, tripods, vases, basins, and rockeries. He drew inspiration from nature, and his works displayed appropriate variations, balanced intricacy, and a vibrant vitality. His popular teapots, such as the "Spring Blossom Teapot," "Three Friends Teapot," and "Colorful Butterfly Teapot," continue to enjoy enduring popularity. Zhu Kexin worked diligently to cultivate talents in Yixing pottery sculpture, including Pan Chunfang, Xu Chengquan, and Wang Yinxian.
Spring Set by Zhu
Jiang Rong (1919-2008)
also known as Lin Feng, was born in Luolin, Chuanbu, Yixing City. She was an outstanding female artist and one of the most prestigious senior masters in the field of Yixing pottery. Her achievements in teapot making are comparable to those of Yang Fengnian from the Qing dynasty.
Frog Lotus Set by Jiang
At the age of 11, Jiang Rong began learning the art of pottery from her father, Jiang Hongquan. In 1940, she went to Shanghai with her uncle, Jiang Honggao, to create antique-style Yixing pottery. She returned to her hometown in 1947. In 1955, she joined the Shushan Pottery Cooperative in Yixing and created teapots with lotus flower and peony designs. She also produced 20 sets of lifelike fruit-shaped teapots for Premier Zhou Enlai's overseas visits. In 1955, she was recognized as a "Yixing pottery artist." In 1957, she made a Buddha's Hand teapot and experimented with slip casting techniques to increase productivity and meet export demand. In 1958, she created dozens of varieties such as golden gourd teapots, diamond-shaped teapots, pumpkin-shaped tobacco jars, large chestnut cups, and bamboo root teapots, and mass-produced them. After 1973, she created ceramic works inspired by nature, including white lotus wine utensils, pipa pen holders, and tree stump basins, which embodied a sense of life. She was awarded the title of "Craft Artist" in 1978, "Senior Craft Artist" in 1989, and "Chinese Craft Art Master" by the state in 1995.
Peony Pot by Jiang
Trunk Pot by Jiang
With the passage of time, all seven veteran artists have passed away. What they have left behind are their silent yet magnificent artworks, bearing witness to their craftsmanship, talent, knowledge, spirit, and character. As we are often swept away by the clamor of commercial trends, can we venture into the depths of their spirits and listen to the vast wisdom of life, which inspires and enlightens us？
