English description (max 250 words):

The Chinese term 提梁壶 (ti liang hu) literally means “lift‑beam” or “carrying‑handle” teapot and denotes a broad family of teapots characterized by a pronounced arched (bail) handle that spans the top of the vessel. This practical form has long roots in Chinese tea culture: examples and written references appear from the late Ming into the Qing and thereafter, used both in households and in tea‑service contexts where a strong top handle made lifting and pouring easier. Craftsmen executed the form in a range of materials—Yixing clay, porcelain, and metal—allowing regional and decorative variation while keeping the same basic functional idea.

Shape note: A typical ti liang hu has a rounded or slightly compressed body, a lid at the crown, and a high arc handle fixed at two opposite points on the rim or shoulder; the spout sits opposite the handle to balance pour dynamics. Handles can be integral (same clay) or attached metal/bamboo, and proportions vary from compact personal teapots to larger serving vessels. If a precise subtype or dating is needed the form can be ambiguous across periods and kilns; this description therefore gives the general historical context and the common identifying features rather than a definitive provenance.
Wood-fired handmade Yixing teapot made from Duanni clay sourced from the original Huanglongshan mine. Xu Shun Wei.