Su Mingzhi 蘇铭智 is a young but very talented teapot maker from Chaozhou. He is specialised in ultra-thin Egg-Yolk-Clay teapots and classical shapes. I fell in love with his work on my last trip in Chaozhou and am very happy to offer a small selection of his models here.
Su Mingzhi is a teapot maker from Chaozhou, China, known for his refined skill in crafting traditional teapots from local Chaozhou clay. He specializes in classic forms such as the li xing hu (pear-shaped teapot) and shui ping hu (classical horizontal teapot), shaping each piece by hand using the wheel-throwing technique. His work is deeply rooted in the Chaozhou gongfu tea tradition.
"A good teapot is made in service of tea." (freely translated from Chinese)
About Su Mingzhi (Chaozhou, China)
Su Mingzhi works exclusively with native Chaozhou zhuni (朱泥), a fine, high-crystallinity clay rich in iron. This material, once fired, produces a distinctive orange-red tone that is highly prized in the gongfu tea community. He often applies traditional techniques such as diaosha (textured sand mixing) and shang tushi (applying decorative slip) to enhance surface and function.
Each of his teapots is delicately thrown with thin walls and small volumes, making them ideal for brewing gongfu tea. His approach honors regional heritage while focusing on utility and balance.
