Chapter 1434: Chapter 1418: Mansheng Eighteen Styles
The Oil Rat was evidently worried that Uncle Feng might be closely connected with Old Mr. Zhong, whom Huo Sining and her group were looking for. He feared that if they continued investigating, it might implicate Uncle Feng, so he wanted to subtly remind the old man to speak courteously.
However, Uncle Feng wasn’t having any of it. He simply waved his hand, interrupting the Oil Rat:
"Those few items, I’ve poured my heart and soul into creating them over the years. I’ve already told you, I want to keep them for myself to play with. Since these two are your guests, if they don’t like Feng Gang’s things, then just take them sowhere else!"
Uncle Feng clearly didn’t want to waste his ti here with these few people, so he flatly issued a dismissal. After speaking, he didn’t even glance at Huo Sining and Gu Xu, nor did he bid them farewell, as he made to turn around and head back inside.
The atmosphere suddenly beca tense. The Oil Rat was secretly panicking, thinking how terrible this situation was. Now he had really caused trouble; how could they afford to offend governnt people? With what Uncle Feng said, considering Miss Huo’s temperant, wouldn’t she be infuriated?
Over on his side, Feng Gang also showed a look of embarrassnt but couldn’t say anything, so he could only gesture for the Oil Rat to stay with the guests in the courtyard while he escorted the others inside.
However, Huo Sining’s goal was to find Old Mr. Zhong, and she wasn’t sure if this Uncle Feng was him or not. Since she couldn’t be certain, she’d let the art speak, so she wasn’t about to let this old man just head back inside so easily.
Seeing the old man already turned and walking toward the corridor, Huo Sining suddenly raised her voice:
"Master Feng! Your Zisha stone ladle has smooth and flowing curves, a robust and simple form, with a natural and pure patina. Truly worthy of being called the gentleman among teapots, the leading piece among the Mansheng Stone Ladle Eighteen Styles, it certainly lives up to its na!"
Master Feng was moving briskly, eager to leave the courtyard imdiately, yet when he heard Huo Sining’s words, he stopped abruptly. Turning around, he looked Huo Sining up and down with eyes full of surprise.
Huo Sining stood there, neither haughty nor humble, smiling as she let the old man’s probing gaze scan her like a detector.
After a good seven or eight seconds of scrutiny, the old man finally spoke, sowhat surprised, "Young lady, you haven’t handled this teapot, how do you assert so confidently that it’s the Mansheng Stone Ladle?"
Huo Sining pressed her lips together and smiled, not hurrying to speak. She knew very well that since the old man didn’t think highly of her youth, he hadn’t even spared her a glance when talking to the Oil Rat. Hence, she intended to use the Zisha teapot in his hand to gain his attention.
Seizing the initiative is a tactic that works everywhere, and indeed, once she spoke, both the old and the young from the Feng family turned their attention towards her.
In this situation, to earn the recognition from the other side, the key point is presence. So Huo Sining maintained her composure, not rushing to explain the old man’s question.
This ti, the old man showed interest, a hint of curiosity flickered in his eyes as he withdrew his arm from Feng Gang’s grasp and turned back to Huo Sining, finally sitting down again at the stone pavilion.
Seeing the old man finally willing to take a seat, Huo Sining then laughed and said, "Your small Zisha stone ladle stands on tripod-like feet, with the pot’s body forming an inverted V shape. It has a flat lid and a bridge-shaped knob, all tidy and sleek. Overall, the teapot appears light yet stable, simple and generous, with a harmonious aesthetic."
"The strength and charm of a stone ladle are greatly influenced by the triangular proportions created by various lines. Mansheng Stone Ladle embodies such a philosophy, characterized by a small top and a large bottom, a low center of gravity. The spout is short yet strong, providing a smooth pour, with the pot’s body shaped like a ’pyramid,’ thus stable to use and elegant to behold."
"This stone ladle, if I’m not mistaken, should be one of the masterpieces co-produced by Chen Mansheng and Yang Pengnian back in the day, designed by Chen Mansheng, crafted by Yang Pengnian, and inscribed by Chen Mansheng himself. Although I haven’t handled it, I dare claim that inscribed at the bottom of your teapot are probably the words ’Mansheng Inscription’ or ’Amando Chamber.’"
The Chen Mansheng ntioned by Huo Sining was the renowned Qing Dynasty calligrapher, painter, and seal artist, Chen Hongshou, whose courtesy na is Mansheng. He is also known as Chen Mansheng.
Chen Mansheng’s integration of epigraphy, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and teapot-making resulted in a unique and mature Zisha teapot artistic style. He designed eighteen classic Zisha teapot styles with the Zisha artists Yang Pengnian and Yang Fengnian, a sibling trio.
These Zisha teapots pioneered the perfect combination of literature, painting, seal engraving, and teapot artistry, creating a unique style of teapot art, thus later referred to as the Mansheng Eighteen Styles.
Chen Mansheng’s artistry in Zisha teapots immortalized the saying, "The pot is esteed by the inscription; the inscription is passed along with the pot." The Mansheng Stone Ladle gained widespread fa, so much so that even those outside the Zisha circle have heard of the Mansheng Eighteen Styles.
However, considering the inherent difficulty in production at the ti, completed Mansheng Stone Ladles were rarely seen, let alone those well-preserved through the years. These can be considered rare treasures in the world, making them highly sought after in both dostic and international auctions where genuine Mansheng Stone Ladles appear, inevitably leading to fierce bidding wars.
Of course, the reason Huo Sining was so sure that the teapot in Uncle Feng’s hand was genuine was because when she rested her hand on the stone platform earlier, under the Heavenly Eye, the teapot he held was enveloped in a layer of purple aura. Although the aura wasn’t especially dense, it was enough to demonstrate that it was undoubtedly a precious item.
"Among the myriad waters, I take but one ladle, a teapot adorned with poetry, calligraphy, and engraving—what high elegance; they called it one of the Three Excellences Pots. The one you’re holding should indeed be one of the Three Excellences Pots."
As Huo Sining spoke eloquently, Old Mr. Feng’s gaze shifted from casual to amazed, and eventually a touch of a smile appeared on his face, the sharpness in his eyes replaced with a smile as he asked:
"Young girl, what’s your na and who’s your teacher? It’s quite rare for soone so young to possess such knowledge and insight."
Huo Sining said with a smile, "My surna is Huo, you can call
Xiao Huo or Huo girl, as you prefer. My master doesn’t like
flaunting his na outside, so I’d rather not say."
"I don’t fear telling you the truth, that everything I just said was
racking my brains, pouring out all the knowledge I possess. Seeing the patina and color on your stone ladle, I can tell you have a deep love for Zisha, and your research in this area must far surpass mine. All I said would just be showing off one’s ager skills before an expert. The fact I didn’t make you laugh at
is already an Amitabha."
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