The Beauty ofCraft & Time
Behind every piece lies devotion to materials, reverence for craft, and an unwavering pursuit of perfection. 108 processes — from raw earth to finished object — is a long journey of mastery.
Everything Has an Origin
We believe great objects begin with great materials. Every raw material carries its own provenance and story.
Yixing Zisha Clay
Dingshu Town, Yixing, Jiangsu
Sourced from deep Zisha clay seams of Huanglong Mountain, aged naturally for years before use. Formed over eons of geological deposits, rich in iron and quartz minerals, giving each piece its unique porous structure and warm tactile quality.
Natural Mineral Glazes
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi
Formulated with traditional mineral recipes using feldspar, quartz, and plant ash. Each batch is test-fired repeatedly to ensure pure color and lustrous texture. No industrial colorants — restoring the beauty of ancient methods.
Mysore Sandalwood
Mysore, India
Selected from century-old sandalwood trees in the Mysore region, with deep color, rich oil content, and mellow fragrance. Each log must be naturally seasoned for years until the wood stabilizes before cutting. The scent of sandalwood calms the mind and grows more beautiful with time.
Natural Lacquer
Enshi, Hubei
Harvested by hand from lacquer trees aged seven to ten years, at specific times of the season. Raw lacquer undergoes multiple rounds of filtering, stirring, and sun-drying. Natural lacquer is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and produces a film as hard and lustrous as jade.
108 Steps
From raw material to finished piece, we strictly follow traditional processes. Here are 6 key stages.
Selection & Cutting
Premium raw materials are sourced directly from their origins. Experienced artisans select each piece of clay and wood by touch and intuition. Anything substandard is discarded — only the purest materials proceed.
Shaping & Trimming
Hand-throwing on the wheel or woodworking — each piece takes form under the artisan's hands through repeated refinement. Trimming is done at the leather-hard stage, shaving away excess stroke by stroke until lines flow and proportions balance.
Bisque Firing
The first low-temperature firing removes moisture and gives the piece enough strength for subsequent work. Kiln temperature is controlled to the degree, with heating curves varying by material — all guided by decades of artisan experience.
Glazing & Painting
Hand-dipped or sprayed to ensure even, full glaze coverage. Painting is done with fine brushes, stroke by stroke, flowing like clouds and water. Every pattern carries cultural meaning — never mere decoration.
High-Temperature Firing
The second firing reaches 1300°C. This is the most critical and unpredictable stage — kiln atmosphere, temperature shifts, and airflow all influence the result. The moment the kiln opens is the artisan's most tense and expectant.
Polishing & Inspection
After firing, pieces undergo meticulous polishing to remove edges and blemishes. Quality control artisans inspect each one — examining its form, listening to its sound, feeling its surface. Only pieces passing all checks are released.
Keepers of Craft
Every artisan is a living history of handcraft. They spend their lives perfecting a single pursuit.
Master Chen
Zisha Teapot Artisan · 35 Years
Born into a teapot-making family in Dingshu Town, Yixing, he began learning at 14. For over three decades, he has insisted on fully handcrafted work, rejecting mold-based mass production. His pieces are known for classic lines and vivid spirit, collected by connoisseurs worldwide. He says: "The pot reflects its maker. When the mind is still, the pot naturally becomes right."
Master Li
Wood Carver · 28 Years
From Dongyang, Zhejiang — China's wood carving capital — he is skilled in hardwood processing and fine carving. He excels especially in polishing and drilling mala beads, where every bead's roundness and hole alignment must be perfect. He says: "Wood has a temperament. You must work with its nature, never against it."
Master Wang
Lacquer Artist · 22 Years
Apprenticed under a national-level intangible cultural heritage lacquer master, specializing in natural lacquer techniques. From mixing and coating to burnishing, every step follows ancient methods. Lacquer pieces require dozens of coats, with days of natural drying between each. She says: "Lacquer doesn't wait for you — you must wait for the lacquer. This craft tests patience above all."
Every Piece Stands the Test of Time
Our quality standards are exacting, because we know — true handcraft is not merchandise, but a token of time.
Direct Source
All raw materials are purchased directly from their origins, with certificates of provenance. No middlemen, no substitution.
Fully Handcrafted
Core processes are completed entirely by hand. Each piece carries the artisan's warmth and character — truly one of a kind.
Multi-Round QC
From raw material to finished product, each piece undergoes at least 5 rounds of quality inspection. Substandard pieces are destroyed rather than sold.
Lifetime Care
Every piece from Yi Yi Ru Shi comes with lifetime maintenance service. We want each work to accompany you for a lifetime.
Coming Soon
We are carefully preparing our first collection. Each piece will be a unique existence.