Inexpensive, functional Japanese-style Kyusu
This is ceramic and painted to look like a red clay side-handle kyusu.For an inexpensive medium sized teapot, it is perfectly functional, and I actually prefer the ceramic as opposed to a less expensive clay pot made with unknown materials. Obviously, there is still a risk with any painted teapot and the possibility that it contains lead or something that would make it unsafe to drink from. I did a simple (inexpensive swab) test for lead paint on this, and it did not indicate the presence-- so at least for lead, the one I got appears to be safe in that regard.It surprisingly pours very well, with no leaking and has the stainless-steel style strainer that is spiraled on the interior in front of the pour spout and is attached to the outside of the spout. The hollow handle keeps it from getting hot and pouring is very easy (with less strain on wrists with these style pots).For a budget kyusu-style teapot of this size it is a good value, and I will add it to my small collection of teapots (as well as continue to use it).