Tea for Two: The Dual Modes of Contemporary Zisha Teaware Production and their Implications for Archaeological Research

Abstract

In archaeology, ceramics receive much attention because they are abundant in many archaeological contexts, chronologically sensitive, and provide a good window into past human behaviors, in particular decision-making in ceramic production which reflects past communities of practice and individual actions. While most studies tend to rely heavily on differences in object shape and style to distinguish between different periods and cultural contexts, the present ethnographic study focuses on one object type, namely zisha teapots from Yixing, China, to explore the hidden diversity in potting behaviors resulting in products that are visually nearly identical in form and style. The article raises awareness of potential differences in raw materials, techniques, and markets for the production of morphologically similar vessels, which would be categorized as the same “type” within typological ceramic classification, and calls for careful evaluation of the complexities within technological practices and their corresponding social boundaries.