Literal translation: "竹叶水平壶" = "Bamboo‑Leaf Horizontal Teapot."

Exact form uncertain: this specific name is not a widely established canonical type in classical teapot catalogs, so it may be a modern or regional variation combining a bamboo‑leaf motif with a low, horizontal body. Because the precise provenance and standard form are ambiguous, the following gives a safe, general context.

Brief history and context:
Bamboo imagery and leaf shapes are longstanding motifs in Chinese decorative arts and tea wares, tied to literati taste and symbolic meanings (resilience, integrity). From the late Ming and throughout the Qing, Yixing (zisha) potters and other makers produced many naturalistic and leaf‑inspired teapots and dishes. Low, wide or "horizontal" teapot profiles have been used in gongfu tea culture because their flatter shape promotes fast, even heat exchange and gives leaves room to unfurl. Modern designers frequently blend traditional motifs (bamboo leaves, textured veins) with these practical low‑profile forms.

Note on the shape:
Expect an elongated, leaf‑like body with a low, horizontal silhouette, a gently tapered spout, close‑fitting lid and a handle balanced for pouring rather than height. Surface treatment may mimic leaf veins or bamboo nodes and is commonly executed in zisha clay, porcelain, or glazed stoneware.
Wood-fired handmade Yixing teapot made from Duanni clay sourced from the original Huanglongshan mine. Xu Shun Wei.