Sourced from a small Yixing family workshop
Michael Zhan came across this dark zisha pixiu during a late-autumn procurement trip through Dingshu, the heart of Yixing clay country. After a long morning of visiting more commercial studios, his local contact brought him to a narrow lane where a retired master works only on zodiac and mythical creatures. The master’s son, now handling most of the forming, still uses clay blends his father developed in the 1980s — this dark zisha is a mix of local zini ore with a small addition of duan ni for a slightly lighter, warmer tone after firing.
The workshop had rows of pixiu in various poses; Michael selected the one with the lowest centre of gravity, the one that sat most naturally on a tea tray. Unlike many cháchǒng that are splashy and demand attention, this pixiu’s lines are simple: the mane is suggested with just a few carved strokes, the mouth is slightly open as if tasting the tea. The piece was signed by both the son (maker) and father (kiln master), a rare joint stamp. Michael negotiated a small exclusive run of ten, of which this is the third to reach the tea.toys collection. The dark zisha was preferred for its slower patina development — ideal for collectors who value a subtle, long-term record of their sessions rather than a quick colour change.