Little Frog on Lotus Leaf Purple Clay Teapot

A lotus leaf, caught mid-drift. A frog, perfectly still.

This teapot is shaped entirely by hand from zisha — the rare purple clay found only in the hills of Yixing, Jiangsu Province, a region that has produced China's most prized teaware for over five centuries. The body takes the form of a lotus leaf: wide, low, and gently ribbed, with the naturalistic cracks and textures of a leaf pulled from still water. Perched on the lid, a hand-sculpted frog sits in quiet watchfulness — painted in soft greens and rendered with a stillness that feels almost alive.

The loop handle, coiled like a stem, completes the composition.

Zisha clay is prized not only for its beauty but for its remarkable brewing properties. Unglazed and naturally porous, it absorbs the oils and character of tea over time — seasoning with every use, becoming more itself the longer it is lived with. Many tea lovers dedicate a single zisha pot to one type of tea, allowing the clay to develop a depth of flavour that no other vessel can replicate.

This piece is as much an object to contemplate as it is to brew with.

The details

• Material: Zisha (Yixing purple clay), hand-sculpted

• Origin: Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China

• Capacity: 120 ml

• Suitable for: Oolong, pu-erh, and black teas

• Care: Rinse with hot water before first use; do not use soap

• Each piece is handmade — minor variations in texture and finish are a natural feature, not a flaw

A note on care

Zisha develops a natural patina with use. Rinse with hot water before and after each brew. Keep soap away from the clay — it will absorb it. Over time, your pot will become uniquely yours.