Ironware
The classic cast iron teapots have been manufactured for centuries in
an
almost unchanged way. Today, we cannot say whether these items
have their
origin in China or Japan. Nevertheless, both products have
their advantages.
Japanese cast iron teapots are very elaborate, almost
designer items of
utmost quality, whereas items from China are
less
expensive.
The production of the teapots requires a lot of manual work. At first,
experienced craftsmen form an aluminium mould, which has the same shape as the
teapot to be created.
The oven, which heats and liquefies the required
iron that is to be filled
into the moulds, is running 24 hours a day. Portion
by portion of the liquid iron is guided via a system of tracks to the so-called
fields of aluminium moulds which are buried in the ground when being filled with
the iron.
No earlier than 24 hours later, the aluminium moulds are lifted
from the ground. After a further, final cooling period, the raw bodies of the
teapots are processed further. They are now polished elaborately on the inside
in order to make them receptive for the subsequent enamel seal. Several
hand-pouring steps ensure that the glazing becomes even and seamless. Hard to
reach areas such as the rim are later enamelled by hand. After a drying and
another
heating procedure, the glazing solidifies and seals the teapot with a
robust glow.
Now, the outer coat of the teapot is refined in yet another
step with innumerable colours in elegantly shining or matt glazes. The
subsequent heating is the final step and seals the high quality of these
precious pieces.