Bidspirit auction | A Set of Four Scrolls

A Set of Four Scrolls of Landscape,by Jin Shiheng - Jin Shiheng , courtesy name Ziyou, was active during the Tongzhi to Guangxu periods of the Qing Dynasty and is a figure of international significance in the history of Chinese Yixing zisha art. A man of many talents, he was skilled in poetry, calligraphy, painting, seal carving, and engraving, but he was particularly accomplished in the realm of zisha clay art. He excelled in crafting Yixing teapots and utilitarian vessels, blending literati aesthetics with practical function in a distinctive style. Jin’s most outstanding contribution lies in his role as a pioneer who systematically introduced Yixing zisha techniques and aesthetic principles abroad. In 1879, at the invitation of potters from Tokoname, Japan, he traveled there to teach core zisha skills—most notably the “da shentong” technique, a fundamental method of shaping clay by paddling slabs into form. He also brought clay-engraving decoration techniques to Japan. This knowledge transfer significantly advanced the Japanese ceramics industry, profoundly influencing the evolution of Tokoname-yaki (Tokoname ware) by integrating essence of Chinese zisha artistry, which helped shape its distinctive craft system. As a result, Jin is revered as a “founding master of ceramic art” and remains an iconic figure in the history of Sino-Japanese cultural and technical exchange.