我亲眼见证了南京工艺美术大师朱江龙如何从一堆泥中“拍打”出一把紫砂壶。15年前，他在宜兴购买了几十吨紫砂泥，存放在当地，每次制作壶时都取用一些。由于紫砂泥开采无序，品质已不如从前，这批泥显得非常珍贵。

整个制作过程都是采用“拍打法”，朱江龙笑称，一把紫砂壶是“拍”出来的，这是一种古老的传统技艺，不多的人会使用这种方法。不像现在市面上很多壶是浇模做出来的，创造性就差了很多。

朱江龙还特地向我解释了一些紫砂壶鉴赏的要领。他说好的紫砂壶有很多个性要求，这些都贯彻在每个制作细节里。收藏者在选择时应该根据自己的能力，即收入高低等来购买，主要要看两方面，一是泥料和工艺，这一定要正，即工艺要符合紫砂的工艺；二是造型上至少要比例协调，再看造型是简洁的还是繁复的等。

他表示，南京玩紫砂壶的人并不多，不过近几年有发展之势。Purple sand teapot is a kind of relatively Oriental traditional way of life, and now that urban life is fast-paced, brewing tea and savoring it has a certain psychological appeal to city dwellers.

The appreciation of purple sand teapots should look at "atmosphere" (气韵). Although the market for collecting purple sand teapots experienced a period of prosperity and decline, until last year's end, the market began to show signs of warming up again. The current market price range for ordinary craftsmen's works is from 500 yuan to several thousand yuan, while high-level craftsmen's works are priced around 5,000 yuan. However, ancient purple sand teapot masterpieces can reach tens of thousands yuan or even higher in value.

Industry insiders believe that the market for collecting purple sand teapots is starting to take off and has good investment prospects. However, facing the many treasures on the market, how can collectors choose one with investment value? Zhang Mr., who collects purple sand teapots, suggests considering aspects such as "mud," "shape," "workmanship," and "ornamentation." The mud used in making a genuine purple sand teapot determines its practical use value; shape refers to whether it has traditional or unique designs; workmanship involves assessing whether each part fits well together; ornamentation includes appraising inscriptions or book paintings on the surface.

In addition to understanding these basics about collecting antique Chinese ceramics like me before investing in them through research or seeking advice from experts - I learned that no matter whether they're old or new pieces - aesthetic standards do exist when evaluating their artistic worth based on lines & shapes!