A very rare Republic period Yixing teapot in green Mo lüni 墨绿泥 clay, shaped like a melon 瓜棱形. The teapot is hexagonally shaped and ribbed, which requires skill to produce in such a fine quality, well balanced shape and smooth to the touch. The handle, spout and loop shaped knob are elegant and well made. The lid fits tightly on the pot. Stamped at the inside of the lid with 朱可心 Zhu Kexin. Zhu Kexin was born in Yixing in 1904 and passed away in 1986. His courtesy name, Kexin, means "those with an open mind can learn from him." At the age of 15, he became a student of Wang Shengyi and later mentored alongside Wu Yungen and Wang Baogen. Known for his open-mindedness and eagerness to innovate, Zhu excelled in the art of teapot making. In 1927, through the introduction of Wu Yungen, Zhu was hired as a kiln industry technician by the Jiangsu Provincial Yixing Ceramics Vocational Party School. There, he created purple clay coffee and tea sets. In 1932, he designed and produced the "Yunlong Tripod," an 84-centimeter tall piece that was exhibited at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago, where it won a special award. Following this success, his work "Bamboo Tripod" was exhibited at Penglai Market in Shanghai and was purchased by Soong Ching Ling for 500 pounds. Zhu's outstanding skills led to his promotion to technician. During the eight years of the Sino-Japanese war, the school where he worked ceased operations but resumed in 1945, where Zhu Kexin continued as a technical teacher. The bottom has a Jin Ding (Golden vessel) commercial mark from Wu Deshen (the purple clay pottery company), established at Yixing in 1916. As a company, the mark was used under the bottom of commissioned works of art by artists. Many famous Yixing artists such as Li Baozhen, Feng Guilin, Yu Guoliang and Zhu Kexin, etc. were commissioned by the company. The company closed down by the start of the Sino-Japanese war in 1937, and the use of company's mark ended in 1939. The combination of the shape, mark of 朱可心 Zhu Kexin and the Jin Ding mark are rarely seen, also a Zhu Kexin marked teapot in green Mo lüni 墨绿泥 clay is rather unusual. Examples of a Mo lüni 墨绿泥 brush pot and teapot marked Zhu Kexin are known: http://121.40.230.137/auction5_det.php?ccid=744&id=96076&n=1085 https://www.polypm.com.cn/assest/detail/0/art5062465142/34 REFERENCE: See a Teapot by Zhu Kexin with very similar mark in the lid at Bonhams AU$4.880,00 : https://www.bonhams.com/auction/22858/lot/124/a-chinese-yixing-grapes-and-squirrel-tea-pot-zhu-kexin-1904-1986/ and a green 'Carp turning into Dragon' teapot at Beijing Poly Auction RMB 149.500,00 : https://www.polypm.com.cn/assest/detail/0/art5062465142/34 Dimensions: H11 x 15,2 (spout to handle) x W10 cm Condition: No damage! Only a superficial molding flaw at the rim of the lid (see pictures) and deep patina from use, staining the green clay black. Checked with strong UV light for defects. Shipping method: The item is securely packed and shipped with insurance without stand or miniature teapot.