Tea Pet or Tea Lover's Pet, also known as Chachong, is a small pottery figure which is kept by some tea drinkers for good luck. They are usually made of "zisha" or Yixing clay, from the region near Yixing in Jiangsu province, China. Similar to Yixing teapots made from the same clay, tea pets are unglazed, and are mostly monochromatic with a rough surface.
Tea pet
Hot water poured on the head of the "pee-pee boy" tea pet triggers a water jet indicating the water temperature.
A counterfeit Crayon Shin-chan "pee pee boy" tea pet
Yixing clay is a type of clay from the region near the city of Yixing in Jiangsu Province, China, used in Chinese pottery since the Song dynasty (960–1279) when Yixing clay was first mined around China's Lake Tai. From the 17th century on, Yixing wares were commonly exported to Europe. The finished stoneware, which is used for teaware and other small items, is usually red or brown in colour. Also known as zisha (宜興紫砂) ware, they are typically left unglazed and use clays that are very cohesive and can form coils, slabs and most commonly slip casts. These clays can also be formed by throwing. The best known wares made from Yixing clay are Yixing clay teapots, tea pets, and other teaware.
Five Yixing clay teapots - showing a variety of styles from formal to whimsical.
A Yixing zisha teapot - "Melon", which combines Zi Ni and Zhu Ni clays
Yixing teapot in green colour
Brush rest, a cicada on a branch