来楚生

Lai Chusheng (来楚生, 1903-1975) was a renowned modern Chinese artist and calligrapher who also created Yixing teapot designs. Born in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang Province, he was a multifaceted artist known for his mastery in painting, calligraphy, seal carving, and poetry. His artistic name was Ran Weng (然翁).

Lai Chusheng's involvement with Yixing pottery represented an extension of his broader artistic practice. He brought his refined aesthetic sensibility and calligraphic skills to teapot design, creating pieces that integrated traditional literati values with functional ceramic art. His work bridged the gap between fine art and craft, elevating Yixing teapots as vehicles for artistic expression.

As a prominent figure in 20th-century Chinese art circles, Lai Chusheng's contributions to Yixing pottery helped maintain the tradition's cultural prestige during the modern era. His designs are valued for their scholarly elegance and the integration of calligraphic and pictorial elements onto the teapot form.