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Shape Chinasources cited

Duoqiu

duōqiú

A rounded Yixing teapot whose body, domed lid and knob suggest stacked spheres. Differences in neck height and the proportions of these parts distinguish individual versions.

On this page
Duoqiu teapot, side view
Duoqiu teapot, side view
  1. 1Knob
  2. 2Lid
  3. 3Spout
  4. 4Handle
  5. 5Body
  6. 6Base
Side view of a round teapot whose body, lid and knob read as stacked balls.Approximate size

Form#

Knob
1spherical ball knob (圆珠钮) on a short constricted neck, forming the top sphere of the stack
Lid
2high hemispherical domed lid (半球形盎盖) with a lipped rim, reading as the middle sphere
Spout
3short, sturdy one-bend curved spout (一弯流) rising from the upper shoulder
Handle
4round ear-shaped loop handle (耳形鋬)
Body
5upright, full globular belly (大球鼓腹) rising to a straight collar neck (直颈), so that body, domed lid and spherical knob read as stacked balls (掇球, 'piled spheres')
Base
6 splayed ring foot (圈足)

123 Numbers mark the parts described under Form.

In Gu Yue’s illustrated pair, follow the wall just below the shoulder. On Duoqiu it curves into the rounded body. On Dezhong it descends more nearly straight beneath the pronounced neck. Dezhong (2011, pp. 100, 102)

Working volume#

Use the volume to the intended fill level, rather than the exterior dimensions or shape name. Leave room for the leaves and lid, and choose cups or a serving pitcher that can receive a complete infusion. Two pots of the same named form may have very different working capacities.

Variants and sub-types#

Name中文DifferenceSources
Dabin Duoqiu大彬掇球Earliest late-Ming prototype associated with Shi Dabin (时大彬), featuring a broad globular body, low-collared neck, and domical cap lid—closer to a single full sphere than the later three-tier stacked variants.14
Daheng Duoqiu大亨掇球Daoguang-era formulation by Shao Daheng; expands the belly into a majestic high-shouldered sphere with a shortened neck, a wide gently domed lid (压盖), and a bold one-bend spout and ear handle.14
Shouzhen Duoqiu寿珍掇球Early-Republic canon perfected by Cheng Shouzhen (程寿珍, 1858–1939); constructed geometrically as three stacked tangent spheres—globular knob (壶钮), hemispherical lid (壶盖), and spherical belly (壶身)—linked by a taller stepped neck collar (高颈).14
Zhuni Gongfu Duoqiu朱泥小掇球Small red-clay examples adapt the rounded body and domed lid to a compact pot. Capacity must be measured on the individual object; neither exterior dimensions nor a catalogue photograph establishes working volume.23

History#

  1. mid-QingSmall zhuni stacked-sphere pots known as 仲芳掇球 ('Zhongfang duoqiu', traditionally invoking the late-Ming potter Li Zhongfang, 李仲芳) circulated with marks of 孟臣, 逸公 and 水平, measuring H 6.8–7.8 × W 9.9–10.9 cm.3
  2. Qing, Daoguang eraShao Daheng (邵大亨, c. 1796–1850) created the large zini 大亨掇球; an example in the Flagstaff House K.S. Lo Collection (Cat. 58) with an oval seal 大亨 under the lid measures H 10.2 × W 12.7 cm.2
  3. late Qing to early RepublicShao Youting (邵友廷) transmitted the form to his adopted son Cheng Shouzhen (程寿珍, 1858–1939, 冰心道人), who heightened the neck and arched the lid into a near-hemisphere; an example in the Palace Museum, Beijing measures H 13.2 cm (rim Ø 8.0 cm, foot Ø 6.5 cm).14
  4. Chicago’s Century of Progress exposition took place in 1933–1934. Later accounts associate Cheng Shouzhen with exposition awards, but the award dates, categories and recipient attribution require contemporary records. They are not established here. University of Chicago

Attributions are shown as the source states them.

Related#

Paired teas on Cha.fyi

Shou pu'er 熟普Sheng pu'er 生普Liubao tea 六堡茶Wuyi rock tea 武夷岩茶

Mentioned in

Yixing ware

Sources#

  1. 近代紫砂的发展 (2009-10-22)China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network · Government and heritage records · Accessed 2026-11-02 ↗
  2. The Art of the Yixing Potter: The K.S. Lo Collection, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware (茶具文物館羅桂祥珍藏宜興紫砂陶器, 1990)Urban Council, Hong Kong / Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware (ISBN 962-215-096-9, Cat. 58) · Museum catalogues and books
  3. 黃健亮、黃怡嘉《荊溪朱泥：明清宜興朱泥壺研究》 / Jingxi Zhuni: The Study of Yixing Zhuni Teapots During the Ming and Qing Dynasties盈記唐人工藝出版社, Taipei (ISBN 978-957-0499-19-3, Plates 145–149) · Museum catalogues and books
  4. 顧景舟主編《宜興紫砂珍賞》 / Appreciation of Yixing Zisha Ware (1992)三聯書店（香港） / Joint Publishing (HK) · Museum catalogues and books
  5. Century of Progress in 1933–1934University of Chicago Library · 2026-11-05
  6. 古月编著：《紫砂壶图谱》湖南美术出版社 · 2011 · ISBN 978-7-5356-4241-7
Status and editorial notes sources cited

Sources are listed below. Their presence does not certify every claim; source-specific interpretations and unresolved questions are identified in the text. This page has not received independent expert approval.

2026-11-05: revised after the homepage evidence audit. Historical attributions, model dimensions and practical guidance are distinguished; unresolved claims remain qualified. Earlier editorial conclusions are superseded by the current text.