Exploring Pear Shaped Yixing Teapot Styles: Classic, Jun De & Si Ting

If you've explored the world of Yixing teapots, you might have observed that many are pear-shaped (梨形). However, they aren't always labeled as such. There are also Si Ting (思亭) and Jun De (君德) Yixing teapots, which closely resemble the classic pear shape. So, what sets them apart?

The classic Pear shape

Many Yixing teapot styles draw inspiration from fruits, including pumpkins, watermelons, apples, mangos, and pears. Among these, the pear shape is by far the most popular. This distinctive design dates back to the Yuan dynasty and gained widespread popularity during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Below, you'll find an example of a classic pear-shaped teapot.

Lu Si Ting's (陆思亭) Si Ting shape

In the early Qing dynasty, a Yixing ceramist named Lu Si Ting introduced a new teapot design inspired by the classic pear shape. His 'Si Ting' teapot preserved the essence of the pear form but with a taller silhouette and more pronounced curves.

A distinguishing feature of the Si Ting teapot is its hemispherical lid. To verify this, you can place the bottoms of two Si Ting teapot lids together—they should form a complete circle. This design also results in a narrower opening compared to traditional pear-shaped teapots.

Below is an example of one of our Si Ting teapots, crafted from Heini clay.

Zhang Jun De's (张君德) Jun De shape

Another early Qing dynasty ceramist, Zhang Jun De, also developed his own teapot style inspired by the classic pear-shaped design. Like Lu Si Ting, he named this teapot shape after himself. Jun De teapots closely resemble the pear-shaped form but are distinguished by their flattened lids. The teapot below features the classic Jun De shape.

In conclusion, a simple way to distinguish these three teapot styles is by observing the lid. The Jun De teapot features a flat lid, the Si Ting teapot has a lid shaped like half a circle, while the pear-shaped teapot lid falls somewhere in between.

If you're unsure which shape to choose, it's worth noting that the Si Ting shape is often considered more feminine due to its elegant curves, while the Jun De shape is seen as more masculine with its broad, stable presence on the tea table. However, we believe that categorizing teapot shapes by gender isn't necessary. Instead, when selecting your Yixing teapot, trust your instincts and choose the design that resonates with you aesthetically.

If you're planning to buy an Yixing teapot, make sure to browse our EU store's Yixing collection as well as our global tea store Yixing collection.