Xuefen Zhang

On a spring day in 2019, I stumbled upon Zhang Xuefen’s studio in a quiet Chaozhou market after wandering past rows of mass-produced wares. I was instantly struck by the flawless craftsmanship of her pots—many of which could be lifted and spun in the air from the lid alone.

What makes Zhang’s work so compelling is her commitment to both form and function. Her teapots, especially her 千線 “thousand lines” pieces, display masterful symmetry and surface detail while remaining deeply practical. I admire her prioritization of usability: handles and knobs are sculpted for balance, pours are clean, and clay texture develops beautifully over time.

Her family-exclusive clay—deep purple, naturally sourced, and processed by hand—yields a finish that shines in a range of red-brown hues depending on use and light. It's this kind of subtle transformation that makes her pots live with you.