The Time Pot

Shi Dabing conducted in-depth research into the clay formulations, shaping techniques, design aesthetics, and inscriptions of Zisha pottery. He was adept at using various types of clay or mixing them with sand from earthenware pots, earning praise for his work being "coarse in sand, ancient in texture, and even in grain." He established a highly difficult, "from scratch" forming technique using clay sheets and joining, which is still followed by the Zisha industry today.

Few of his works survive. According to incomplete statistics, there are only a little over a dozen Zisha teapots mentioned in historical records, each housed in museums or private collections worldwide. Consequently, antique collectors and Zisha teapot enthusiasts consider "Shi teapots" to be the ultimate standard.

Due to the immense reputation of "Shi teapots," numerous fakes appeared not only after Shi Dabing's death but even while he was still alive. As the saying goes, "Even if 'Shi teapots' are sold in the market, they are often fakes, not the genuine article." Therefore, acquiring a genuine piece by Shi Dabing is an exceptionally rare feat.

This Zisha teapot is a small one, commonly referred to as "a single pot." Its shape is essentially the same as the Zisha teapot made by Song Jun that was used just moments ago; it is also a sand-decorated cap-lid pot.

This pot is a "棠栗" color, with light-colored fine sand mixed unevenly on its surface. The color is a clear yellow, with individual grains subtly visible. This clear yellow fine sand is colloquially known as "osmanthus sand." The pot employs the traditional sand-decoration technique, where selected fine sand particles are mixed into the clay, making the "osmanthus sand" on the pot's surface appear faintly, like scattered flower petals.

Its processing and proportioning have reached a very high level for Zisha clay materials. The textural quality formed by the sand decoration and its coordination with the overall shape demonstrate the superb craftsmanship.

The lid is shaped like a cap, with a high dome on the surface. An oval knob is placed on the lid. The body of the pot is large and spherical, tapering downwards from the belly to the base, and tapering upwards from the belly to the shoulder.

The bottom inscription is a regular script "Shi Dabing Made" carved with a bamboo knife, along with the cyclical stem-and-branch notation for the year. The carving is deep and powerful, with more bone than flesh.

Considering the overall shape of this pot, it can be described as ancient, simple, and majestic, a blend of strength and grace. To describe it in four phrases: "Coarse but not vulgar," "Simple but grand and elegant," "Coarse sand, ancient texture," and "Simple, elegant, and robust." This pot bears the "Dabing" signature and the cyclical stem-and-branch notation, and its craftsmanship is extremely fine and precise. It is a rare treasure, exceptionally hard to come by, truly priceless.

"Shi teapots" are even more precious due to their scarcity, which also significantly increases the difficulty of discerning their authenticity. Chu Chen's ability to observe this pot up close and in detail this time is a rare opportunity, providing him with a standard in today's antique market, which is flooded with fakes.

After carefully admiring the "Shi teapot," Chu Chen let out a sigh of relief, while also developing a fondness for the pot. Such a grand yet exquisite Zisha teapot was no wonder Uncle Zhu was reluctant to part with it; if it were him, he would surely feel the same.

Chu Chen placed the teapot in its brocade box and said with an envious tone, "This teapot is truly exquisite. Master Song, you are so lucky."

Song Jun, about to receive this "Shi teapot," was beaming with joy. He thanked Zhu Dafu and then said to Chu Chen, "Thank you for your good wishes."

Zhu Dafu gently stroked the teapot and said with emotion, "To be honest, I am truly reluctant to part with it. But I am getting old, and I have no suitable successor among the younger generation. Sooner or later, I must find a good home for my collection. This time, I will grant Master Song's wish."

Chu Chen quickly said, "Uncle Zhu, you are only seventy-two, how can you say you are old? Besides, you still have Sister Xin."

Zhu Dafu chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm just feeling emotional about yesterday's trip. As for your Sister Xin, you can't count on her. Although she likes antiques, she primarily focuses on their economic value. To be honest, this is also a sorrow of our trade."

"Although more people have become interested in collecting recently, most of them are focused on the economic benefits. That's a separate issue, as we can't proceed with collecting without money. However, many of them have only a superficial understanding of the items. How can we pass down our ancestors' culture if things continue like this?"

These words led the two into deep thought. While money is good, too much money becomes mere lucre. Moreover, the greater the profit, the more undesirable elements it attracts. Correspondingly, the artistic and cultural value of antiques has diminished in people's minds.

Art and culture are often priceless because they are our spiritual nourishment and a form of inheritance. The amount of money, however, always has a numerical value. If money dictates art and culture, it not only destroys the inheritance of our ancestors but, to put it severely, can also destroy the future of human civilization.

Therefore, the relationship between antiques and money is somewhat like the relationship between life and money. Your life cannot do without money, but your life cannot be dictated by money. Similarly, antiques cannot do without money, but if antiques are judged solely by money, their original intended value is lost.

"When people get old, they talk a lot. For us, it's enough to do what we should do. Like now, it's getting late. Let's quickly sign the transfer agreement!" Zhu Dafu said with a smile, taking out the four transfer agreements he had prepared.

Chu Chen took his copy and glanced at it briefly. With five years in the antique trade, he was very familiar with such documents. The agreement was quite simple, usually a standard format. One only needed to write the names of Party A and Party B, the amount, and the item. If both parties had no objections, they would sign their names and the date.

The antique trade emphasizes "once the deal is struck, it's final." Signing such an agreement signifies that the buyer has confirmed the authenticity of the item, leaving no room for repercussions later. There is another type where the seller provides a certificate of authenticity. If the buyer discovers the item is fake after taking it home, they can hold the seller accountable.

However, some certificates of authenticity are now worded ambiguously. For example, if a buyer purchases a piece of Hetian jade, and the certificate states it is jade, but the buyer discovers at home that it is not Hetian jade but Russian jade, they would be unable to seek recourse from the seller.

Therefore, when buying antiques, one must keep their eyes wide open. As the saying goes, the buyer is never as shrewd as the seller. Newcomers to the antique trade should not expect to settle accounts later. Similarly, when you see an antique with a certificate of authenticity, you should be even more cautious.

Chu Chen picked up a pen and filled in the item name and amount on the agreement, then signed his name and the date, marking the transaction as complete. It was also a coincidence that the agreement had a witness signature, and since Song Jun was present, he could act as the witness. Chu Chen, in turn, would be the witness for Song Jun's agreement.

In reality, the witness on the agreement does have some effect, but it's not a decisive factor. If it's not possible, it's fine not to have one.

After everyone signed the agreements, they headed to the bank. Fortunately, the bank was not far, only a few minutes' walk.

On the way, Chu Chen said to Zhu Dafu, "Uncle Zhu, why didn't you get a check? It would be less troublesome to conduct the transaction this way, and you wouldn't have to rush for time."

Zhu Dafu chuckled, "I'm old, and I'm not used to using checks. My eyesight isn't what it used to be, and it would be troublesome if I misread or wrote something incorrectly. It's more convenient at the bank. Besides, we don't always encounter large transactions like today; cash is sufficient for everyday use."

After transferring the money at the bank, Chu Chen withdrew fifty thousand yuan. Although fifty thousand seems like a lot, rent and internet alone cost around twenty thousand, the computer costs over ten thousand, and the rest is for restocking inventory and purchasing collectibles. Fifty thousand yuan can be spent very quickly. It's easy to earn, and easy to spend.

However, Chu Chen was still very excited looking at the forty-five thousand in his account. Just a few days ago, he had lost forty-two thousand. Today, not only had he covered the deficit, but he also had tens of thousands more. It truly made him feel emotional.

At this point, Song Jun checked his watch and said, "It's almost lunchtime. How about I treat you two to a meal today?"

Chu Chen heard this and turned to them, saying, "How can I let Master Song treat us? I've made a bit of money today, and besides, I'm the host. I'll definitely take charge of the invitation."

Seeing that Song Jun was about to politely decline, Zhu Dafu smiled and said, "Alright, Master Song, let's 'rob' this little rich man, Chu Chen, today. When we visit Yixing next time, we'll trouble you, the local host."

With this arrangement, Song Jun had no choice but to agree. Thus, Chu Chen took them to a relatively upscale private kitchen restaurant. Now that he had funds, he felt at ease, truly embodying the demeanor of a small landlord.

During the meal, the three engaged in a lively discussion about Zisha teapots and the tea ceremony. Of course, Chu Chen was still a novice in these areas; it was mainly Zhu Dafu and Song Jun who spoke. Overall, the meal was a joyous occasion for all, and it allowed Chu Chen to learn a great deal, further deepening his interest in the tea ceremony.

Although the meal cost over a thousand yuan, Chu Chen felt it was very rewarding. Not to mention the excellent quality of the dishes, he first became much more familiar with Song Jun. Towards the end of the conversation, Song Jun even promised to give him a set of tea ware he had recently made.

This made Chu Chen ecstatic. After all, Song Jun was a renowned teapot master in the region. To obtain his work, not only was money involved, but often one had to wait for a considerable time. This made Chu Chen so happy that he repeatedly said, "How can I possibly accept this!"

After dinner, the three bid farewell. Song Jun had family matters to attend to and had booked an afternoon train to return home. Chu Chen had originally planned to invite him to sightsee for a couple of days and ask him about the tea ceremony, but now he would have to wait for another opportunity.

However, Song Jun was a very busy man, and it was uncertain when they would meet again. Chu Chen felt a little regretful. Fortunately, communication technology is advanced today. If he had any questions about the tea ceremony, he could communicate by phone. But, after all, it was not as convenient as face-to-face interaction.