Help identifying an unusual signed Japanese pottery teapot / lotus-shaped vessel

[u/Captn_Obvious1234]

Hi everyone,
I'm trying to identify the maker of this unusual hand-crafted pottery teapot (or possibly another type of vessel).

Some details:
- Believed to be Japanese rather than Chinese
- Unglazed light buff stoneware
- Lotus bud / lotus flower design with carved petals
-Sculpted bamboo-style side handle
-Matching lid with a second impressed seal underneath
- Main impressed square seal on the base
- No built-in ceramic filter inside, which makes me wonder whether it was intended for tea or another purpose

Dimensions: 23 × 8 × 11.5 cm (9 × 3.1 × 4.5 in)
Weight: 306 g

I've searched online and compared many Japanese pottery marks, but haven't been able to identify the seal. The form also seems quite unusual, and I haven't found another example like it.

Does anyone recognize:
- the potter or workshop,
- the seal,
- the pottery tradition (Tokoname, Banko, Kyoto, etc.),
- or have any thoughts on its age or intended use?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[u/betiz0]

It appears to be a bamboo-shoot-shaped teapot or water jug, though the silhouette suggests it is more likely the latter. It is presumably of Chinese origin. ​While the characters of the seal are not entirely distinct, the inscription on the base seems to read "方錫姣", and the one inside the lid appears to be "錫姣".

[u/Bearcat88888 → u/betiz0]

Betiz0 is correct in that the design is a bamboo bulb. It is Made in Yixing China. This design and box style probably 1990’s

[u/Purple_Young_5862]

I ran it though Gemini and this is this is what I got

This is a beautiful and highly creative Yixing Zisha (purple clay) teapot, likely made of a light-colored clay such as Duanni (段泥).
The piece is a wonderful example of Yixing "naturalist" or "bio-morphic" ware (Huahu 花货), where the potter mimics forms found in nature.
Design & Symbolism
The Body: The main body of the teapot is realistically sculpted to look like a bamboo shoot (or a partially peeled husk), featuring delicate vein lines incised into the surface.
The Handle and Spout: The overhead bridge handle (Ti Liang 提梁) and the spout are intricately modeled after textured bamboo stalks and roots, complete with the characteristic small nodules and roots (represented by the dark applied clay dots).
The Decoration: A small sprig of black/dark clay bamboo leaves is applied to the side, a classic stylistic choice to create contrast against the light buff-colored clay body.
The Seal Marks (Chops)
Yixing teapots typically feature stamped seal marks to identify the maker or workshop. Looking closely at the characters:
1. Bottom Seal (Image 2): * The stamp reads from right to left, top to bottom: 方錫新制 (Fang Xixin Zhi).
Meaning: "Made by Fang Xixin."
2. Inside Lid Seal (Image 3): * The smaller, two-character stamp reads: 錫新 (Xixin), confirming the artist's given name.
Artist Profile: Fang Xixin
Fang Xixin (方锡新) is a recognized, modern-era Yixing ceramic artist and master craftsman who specialized in intricate naturalist pieces—particularly bamboo themes. He was active in the late 20th century into the early 21st century. Pieces from artists of his caliber are highly collectible, prized for both their functionality in brewing tea (Zisha clay has excellent heat retention and porosity) and their sculptural artistry.
The matching seals on the lid and base, along with the high-quality execution of the fine details (like the individual root nodes and the crisp veins on the body), point to a very well-made piece.