Ǎi Jǐnglán Hú

Image from book page 249

Ǎi Jǐnglán Hú

矮井栏壶
A little pot with centuries of well-worn charm.

The Ǎi Jǐnglán Hú, or 'Short Well-Curb Teapot,' takes its name from the low stone rings that surround traditional Chinese water wells — and once you see it, the resemblance is instantly clear. Legendary master Gu Jingzhou reimagined a classic design by Chen Mansheng, crafting a compact, gently flared cylinder that feels both grounded and graceful in the hand. Its clean, flowing lines and subtly domed lid give it a quiet confidence that makes it a favorite among collectors who appreciate understated elegance.

Did You Know?

The 'well-curb' shape is one of the oldest recurring forms in Yixing teapot history — its simple, cylindrical silhouette has inspired masters across generations, each putting their own spin on this timeless design.

Original Source Details ▾
I notice this text appears to be fragmentary notes about Yixing pottery pieces, likely catalog or authentication entries. The text seems incomplete or possibly corrupted, with scattered characters and inconsistent formatting. Here's my translation: --- # Yixing Pottery Authentication Records ## Piece 1: *Zhu Jinglan* (Cast Well Railing) **Lid seal:** Gu Jingzhou **Base seal:** Jingzhou hand-made **Handle tip seal:** Suo **Period:** Mid-to-late 1980s ## Piece 2 **Lid seal:** Gu Jing **Base seal:** Jingzhou **Handle tip seal:** Guo **Period:** Mid-to-late 1980s ## Piece 3 **Base seal:** Gu Jingzhou **Seal:** Jingzhou's work after age seventy **Period:** Mid-to-late 1980s --- *Note: The original text appears fragmentary with some characters that may be transcription errors (e.g., "顾景洲" vs. "顾景舟"). Gu Jingzhou (顾景舟, 1915-1996) was a renowned Yixing pottery master.*

Original Chinese Text 原文

“矮井栏壶”为顾景舟晚年制作 。 他批判性地吸收曼生“延年铭井栏 考” 的造型特色,壶体呈上罕下宽的圆柱状, 丰用圆润,浑圆雅致, 线条流 畅 。搓盖征微隆起 ,与索身衔接部分形成一条圆润的四线 ,手法老练娴熟 , 增加了壶体的层次,一索流与壶体暗接, 气韵通畅,口端略作尖垂状,气韵 灵动 。1989 年 ,顾景舟的两把“然井栏者”,分别与金陵画派著名艺术家魏 紫中和亚明合作 。与魏紫辕合作的一把正面题书“神韵天成”, 背面绘“松 罕岁”, 笔下老松 、峰寓苍秀齐出 ,既见刚健之气 ,又显前劲之韵 。 与亚明 合作的一把正面书刻“青松本无华", 底部刻铬“壶 , 先秦有之 。 紫砂始于 明正德 ,圣今近五百年 ,高手不过十余人 。顾兄景舟当为近代大师 ,顾壶可 见华夏之哲学精神 、文学气息 、绘画神韵“ 1 萧建民主编 :《陈曼生人研究 办 杭州 : 西诊印社出版社,2011 年11 月版, 第129页。 化 神 四 五