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Emperor Yongzheng (Qing Dynasty), celebrated for his exceptional artistic talents and refined taste, played a significant role in the design of ceramics, personally overseeing the shapes and patterns to meet his aesthetic standards. His direct involvement and feedback helped elevate porcelain production to its highest level during the Qing Dynasty.
When it came to Yixing teapots, Emperor Yongzheng had a deep appreciation for the natural charm of the material. He preferred a style that was simple yet profound and understated. These teapots were often left unglazed to emphasize their form and the natural texture of the clay, giving them an elegant appearance. Notable examples include the Yixing kiln’s side-handle teapots and persimmon stem round teapots. Interestingly, these pieces do not carry imperial reign marks, highlighting the emperor’s preference for natural beauty and artistic integrity.
The persimmon stem pattern gained popularity during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. An excavated teapot from the tomb of Wu Jing, the eunuch supervisor of ceremonies during the 12th year of Emperor Jiajing's reign, features this pattern in the form of relief decorations on its spout.
This teapot, unearthed in 1965, is currently the earliest known Yixing teapot with a verifiable date.
Moreover, Emperor Yongzheng frequently issued decrees to use Yixing teapot designs as models for creating other types of artworks. According to records from the Qing imperial workshop archives, in the fourth year of Yongzheng's reign, he ordered the creation of silver and enamel teapots modeled after six different Yixing teapots of varying sizes.
He also repeatedly commanded the imperial kiln at Jingdezhen to produce porcelain based on Yixing teapot designs. For instance, in the seventh year of his reign, he decreed the creation of Chinese Jun Yao porcelain modeled after chrysanthemum-petal-style Yixing teapots, utilizing flambé red and flambé blue glazes in the process.
During Emperor Yongzheng's brief 13-year reign, there are over 11 recorded instances concerning Yixing teapots. The influence of Yixing pottery on imperial kiln porcelain was significant during both the Yongzheng and Qianlong eras. Many imperial kiln porcelain pieces were modeled after Yixing teapot designs. Consequently, imperial porcelain with reign marks from the Yongzheng period can be compared to unmarked Yixing Zisha pieces from the same era.
Aside from the natural textured Yixing items, the Yongzheng period saw two significant innovations in teapot artistry: the use of colored clay relief painting and lacquered gold painting. Both were highly favored by Emperor Yongzheng.
Emperor Yongzheng placed great emphasis on the preparation of Yixing zisha, pioneering the colored clay relief painting technique. Using clay as ink, this method relied on the thickness of the clay and the effect of different colored clays to create relief paintings on the clay body, resembling low-relief carvings with distinct layers. The result was elegant and sophisticated, with a profound artistic mood.
