Xu Sihai facts for kids

Xu Sihai (born around 1946 – died June 5, 2020) was a famous Chinese artist. He was known for making, collecting, and showing teapots. Xu was an expert on special teapots called purple clay teapots. In 1992, he started the Sihai Teapot Museum. This was the first private museum in modern Shanghai, China.

Early Life and Teapot Art

Xu Sihai was born in Yancheng, a city in Jiangsu province, China. When he was 10 years old, he moved south to the big city of Shanghai.

At 23, he joined the army. While he was in the military, Xu became very interested in making purple clay teapots. These teapots are famous for their unique clay and craftsmanship.

After leaving the army, Xu returned to Shanghai. He brought with him many purple clay teapots that he had made.

Award-Winning Teapots

Xu continued to create purple clay teapots in the 1980s. His hard work paid off. In 1985, one of his teapots, named "Summer," won a national competition. This special teapot is now kept at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, USA.

In 1989, Xu had his first solo art exhibition in Singapore. This show was all about his amazing teapots. Today, you can see his teapots in museums both in China and around the world.

Founding Museums

In 1992, Xu Sihai opened the Sihai Teapot Museum. This was a very important step. It was the first museum in Shanghai that was not run by the government. It was a private museum.

Later, in 2009, Xu opened an even bigger place. It was called "A Hundred Buddhas Garden." This large area included the original Sihai Teapot Museum. It also had the China Tea God Museum and a factory that made tea. This whole complex was in Shanghai's Jiading District.

Xu Sihai passed away on June 5, 2020. He was 74 years old.