Our Story
As early as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Yixing clay teapots were brought to Europe along the Maritime Silk Road, and became favorites of the European royal families and the upper class. They took pride in owning a Yixing teapot, calling it "red porcelain", coming from the mysterious and distant Orient.
The greatest advantage of Yixing clay is its excellent breathability due to its double-pore structure. It does not affect the flavor of the tea, prevents the tea from spoiling overnight, retains heat well, and gets more beautiful and elegant with use. The shapes of purple clay teapots vary greatly, with round, square, ribbed, and floral designs, fully reflecting the unique plasticity of purple clay material. And this kind of Clay only exists and can be found in Yixing worldwide.
In 1954, seven veteran artisans, including Ren Ganting, Wu Yungen, Pei Shimin, Wang Yinchun, Zhu Kexin, Gu Jingzhou, and Jiang Rong, led the establishment of a pottery cooperative (the predecessor of the Jiangsu Yixing Purple Clay Craft Factory) by gathering small purple clay workshops scattered among the people.
In October 1955, the cooperative recruited apprentices in batches and the seven veteran artisans carefully taught and systematically trained them. In 1956, the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government awarded the honorary title of "Technical Advisor" to the seven veteran artisans. Since then, the Yixing clay factory has cultivated a large number of renowned experts and masters represented by Chinese Master Craftsmen and Chinese Ceramic Art Masters, laying a solid foundation for the inheritance, prosperity, and development of Yixing clay.
In 1958, the Jiangsu Yixing Purple Clay Craft Factory was officially named, and its "Fangyuan" brand high-end purple clay tea sets and purple clay pottery successively won the national silver and gold medals from 1979 to 1983. In 1984, it won the gold medal at the Leipzig International Fair in Germany, and its products were sold well in more than 50 countries and regions around the world.
In 2023, the One·Pot brand was renamed and founded from the "Fangyuan" brand, committed to continuing the legacy of Yixing clay craftsmanship while integrating modern design elements. This new brand aims to appeal to contemporary tastes while honouring the rich heritage of Yixing clay pottery. By embracing both tradition and innovation, One·Pot seeks to introduce the timeless elegance and superior functionality of Yixing teapots to a new generation of tea enthusiasts worldwide.
The establishment of One·Pot marks a new chapter in the centuries-old tradition, ensuring that the artistry and cultural significance of Yixing clay will continue to flourish and be appreciated globally.
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About Founder
Zhang Yuzhuo
Zhang Yuzhuo, born in Yixing No.1 Clay Factory, comes into a family of Zisha teapot artisans, with three generations devoted to the craft of Zisha pottery. His mother is a master of ceramic arts in Jiangsu Province and a disciple of the renowned Zisha master, Gu Jingzhou. As a curator, Yuzhuo organized and compiled information on approximately 50 artists from a local factory, and planned a literature exhibition tracing the history of the Jiangsu Zisha Factory since its establishment. As a professional art collector, he has amassed over a thousand artworks by the Chinese Master of Arts and Crafts, Bao Zhiqiang, and participated in the editing of publications such as "Jiang Liwen's Collection of Zisha Art" and other Yixing Clay and ceramic publications. He has traveled to countries like the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Japan for cultural exchanges, and led young artists from Yixing to participate in exhibitions and auctions both domestically and internationally, aiming to uphold the respect and inheritance of traditional culture, and foster a deep affection for the interplay between clay and fire.
Xuan (Iris) Hu
Xuan Hu hails from Yixing, a town renowned for its exquisite clay teapots and rich cultural heritage. Grew up in a family of master artisans dedicated to the exquisite art of Yixing Clay teapot making, Xuan was immersed in the world of craftsmanship from an early age. This deep-rooted connection to the art of teapot-making inspired Xuan to carry forward this cherished tradition, ensuring that the beauty and artistry of Yixing Clay teapots are shared with the world.
Since moving to the Netherlands for further digging into the 17-18 century Yixing clay and Netherlands's historical stories, Xuan has obtained double Master's degrees at Erasmus University Rotterdam and St. Joost School of Art & Design. She further enriched her expertise through exchange programs in Museum Studies at the University of Oxford and Curation Studies at the Zurich University of the Arts.
With over five years of overseas experience in the cultural and creative industries, Xuan has carved a niche as a cultural ambassador and entrepreneur, collaborating with renowned European galleries, museums, and cultural institutions. Xuan’s commitment to cultural exchange extends to her role as the Cultural Ambassador for the 50th Anniversary of Sino-Dutch Diplomatic Relations at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China.
