There are many factors affecting the price of a Yixing pot. In a normal market, it is the materials and processing, the crafting expertise, the fame of the craftsperson, and the profit margins within the supply chain.
That said, however, the proportions in these factors have been quite distort in most cases. Lies, or exaggerations, are the strongest common thread in the distortion. The worst offenders are often found to be the retailers and second wholesalers. Common quality and ordinary artisans are labelled as great ones. Second wholesalers also encourage artisans to imitate the styles and signature seals of high ranking craftspersons to produce pots which pots are otherwise tens or hundreds of times lower in price.
Another way to cheat the customer is to photograph a genuine one and deliver an imitation. It is most often happening in the internet market.
What I think is the worst thing in the market, however, is the use of common clay to imitate Yixing clay. The use of various chemicals to colorize and change the surface finishing is commonplace. The products are good for decoration but not good for use. They are likely to be harmful to health. They are what some readers and customers show me what they have as Yixing pots. They are made in small villages and suburbs all over China. Initially it was a small shady industry for tourist gift shops and street vendors. Now the products are everywhere.
I have not yet answered you how to distinguish a genuine Yixing pot, because that is a very, very big subject. Let me answer it in subsequent articles in the main site.
One thing I need to stress is that a good genuine Yixing pot is a great tool and a great collection piece. The price does appreciate even after use (actually more after good use). The supply of good Yixing clay is lowering and the demand is rising.
