宫春·段泥宜兴壶（手工，260毫升）

Heritage: The Legend of Gong Chun (供春)

The Gong Chun teapot is considered the "ancestor" of all Yixing teapots. Its origin dates back to the Ming Dynasty (Zhengde period).

• The Origin Story: Legend has it that a young manservant named Gong Chun accompanied his master to study at the Jinsha Temple in Yixing. While there, he observed a monk secretly crafting teapots from local purple clay.
• Nature’s Inspiration: Fascinated, Gong Chun used the leftover clay to mimic the gnarled, weathered texture of a tree gall (burl) on an ancient gingko tree near the temple.
• Cultural Impact: This shifted Yixing pottery from simple, smooth functional ware to a high art form that celebrated the "rustic elegance" favored by Chinese scholars and the literati. Today, owning a Gong Chun-style pot is a tribute to the very roots of Zisha history.

The Maker: Zhou Mingfei (周明飞)

Zhou Mingfei is a recognized craft artist within the Yixing pottery community, known for his specialization in the "Flower and Nature" (Hua Huo) style of Zisha art.

Artistic Philosophy: Zhou Mingfei is celebrated for his ability to translate organic, natural forms into functional teaware. His work on the Gong Chun shape is particularly noted for its realistic "tree bark" texture, which requires precise hand-carving and a deep understanding of how Duan Ni clay shrinks and changes during firing.

Craftsmanship: As a proponent of traditional techniques, Zhou Mingfei utilizes Fully Handmade construction. This means the body of your 260cc pot was formed without the use of molds, created instead through the meticulous "pounding" and "joining" of clay sheets—a process that ensures better breathability and a unique soul for every individual teapot.

Reputation: His works are sought after by collectors who value the "Wabi-sabi" aesthetic—finding beauty in imperfection and the rugged textures of the natural world.