Ceramic Tea Cups

This is an old-style blue and reticulated teacup, with a dense and fine body and a soft, mellow glaze that reflects the traditional characteristics of Jingdezhen folk kilns. The form is small and upright, well-proportioned, with smooth natural lines typical of early gongfu tea cups. The exterior is decorated with entwined floral motifs in underglaze blue, complemented by touches of overglaze red, creating a modest yet charmingly rustic visual harmony.

The entire cup is crafted using the traditional reticulated (linglong) technique, with fine translucent holes visible when held to light. The glaze seeps into these openings during firing, forming semi-transparent ‘windows.’ Under illumination, the patterns faintly shimmer through the porcelain, revealing a soft and gentle translucence. The base is marked ‘Made in China,” indicating that it was produced in the mid-20th century in Jingdezhen as an old-style folk kiln piece. Compared with official kiln wares, this cup shows a rougher finish—blue lines appear slightly blurred and the glaze varies in thickness—but these imperfections enhance its authenticity and capture the warmth of traditional handcraftsmanship.

Reticulated porcelain, also known as ‘transparent porcelain’, originated during the Jiajing period of the Ming dynasty and reached its peak in the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns of the Qing dynasty. The process is highly intricate, involving the carving of tiny holes in the clay body before glazing and high-temperature firing, allowing the glaze to fill the openings and produce a luminous, translucent effect. By the late Qing and Republic periods, blue and reticulated tea wares had become common household items, valued for their practicality and for embodying the daily charm of traditional Chinese tea culture.

This teacup is baked by firewood and is made by both of kiln-fired glaze variations and cracked glaze craft. Because kiln alteration techniques enable an exciting and dynamic way to create different blue colour glazes on this teacup, each teacup is unique and made by hand, with no two being exactly alike. The phenomenon of crystal formation caused by kiln altered in a cup, commonly known as “crystal flowers”.

Besides that, the unique cracked glaze technique used creates beautiful patterns on the cup’s surface. Over time as it is soaked with tea soup, and then resulting variations in the pattern make each piece truly outstanding and add more enjoyment to the tea drinking experience.

It has:

• Unique Appearance: The master cup features a simple and elegant design with smooth lines and a rounded rim. The surface displays a soy-colored kiln-altered effect, with naturally transitioning colors and rich glaze variations, offering a visual delight.
• High-Temperature Kiln Altered Technique: This master cup is made using traditional high-temperature kiln-altered techniques. The prolonged high-temperature firing process creates unique glaze colors and textures. Each cup has a one-of-a-kind kiln-transmutation effect, making it an irreplaceable piece of art.
• Exquisite Handcraftsmanship: The master cup is handcrafted by experienced artisans, with every detail meticulously polished. The cup body is smooth and delicate, providing a comfortable grip, making it both practical and beautiful.
• Strong Practicality: This master cup is not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly practical. Its moderate capacity is perfect for enjoying tea, allowing the full release of the tea’s aroma and flavor. The rounded rim provides a comfortable drinking experience.
• Cultural Symbolism: The soy-colored kiln-altered patterns on the cup body are not only beautiful but also embody the natural imagery of traditional Chinese culture, symbolizing tranquility and harmony. This cultural element adds profound cultural significance to the master cup.
• Combination of Aesthetics and Function: This master cup is suitable for both daily use and as a collectible art piece. Its unique aesthetic design and practical functionality enhance the tea-drinking experience while also serving as a decorative item to beautify living spaces.

Attention:

• Kiln-fired glaze variations are often unpredictable and can result in a wide range of colours from a single firing.
• The porosity of ceramics varies depending on the materials used, the recipe, the pressure applied, the duration of pressure, the thickness of the body, the firing temperature, and the duration of firing. Generally, the finer the porcelain, the smaller the pores, while the coarser the pottery, the larger the pores.
• Since porcelain is made from clay, the amount of iron spots present in the clay varies depending on the mineral content of the soil. These iron spots are harmless and do not affect the use of the porcelain. Removing them would require the use of chemical materials, which can be damaging to high-quality porcelain.
• Handmade products are not perfect, and each piece can have differences in size, shape, colour, and other aspects.

This flower petal swirl cup features a straight-walled form, tall and elegant, with a rim shaped into a gentle six-petal curve resembling a blooming flower. The cup body is adorned with spiral relief lines, creating a sense of movement, like petals unfurling or fluttering lightly in the wind. The white porcelain is delicate and smooth, with a bright, pure glaze that conveys refinement and simplicity.

When in use, the tea shines more vividly against the white porcelain, highlighting its clarity and purity. Whether enjoyed alone or placed within a tea setting, the cup adds a sense of elegance, simplicity, and rhythm.

This cup, characterized by its petal-shaped rim and swirling lines, embodies both the beauty of tradition and the minimal elegance of contemporary design.

This ink wash kiln altered aroma teacup is a finely crafted piece of teaware, perfectly blending traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. Here is a detailed introduction to this aroma cup:

• Unique Appearance: The aroma cup features a tall foot and slender waist design, with an elegant, flowing shape. The surface of the cup displays natural ink wash kiln altered patterns, with rich and naturally varying colors resembling an ink painting, adding a unique artistic touch.
• High-Temperature Kiln Altered Technique: The aroma cup is made using traditional high-temperature kiln altered techniques. The high-temperature firing process creates unique glaze colors and textures. Each cup has a one-of-a-kind kiln altered effect, making it a unique piece of art.
• Exquisite Handcraftsmanship: This aroma cup is handcrafted by experienced artisans, with every detail meticulously polished. The cup body is smooth and delicate, providing a comfortable grip, making it both beautiful and practical.
• Strong Practicality: The design of the aroma cup is not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly practical. The tall foot design makes it easy to handle, and the slender waist shape concentrates the aroma, enhancing the tea-tasting experience. The cup’s moderate capacity is perfect for enjoying tea.
• Cultural Symbolism: The ink wash kiln transmutation patterns on the cup body are not only beautiful but also embody the mountain and water imagery of traditional Chinese culture, symbolizing a carefree, detached, and immortal life free from worldly concerns. This cultural element adds profound cultural significance to the aroma cup.
• Combination of Aesthetics and Function: This aroma cup is suitable for both daily use and as a collectible art piece. Its unique aesthetic design and practical functionality enhance the tea-drinking experience while also serving as a decorative item to beautify living spaces.

This ink wash kiln altered aroma cup is a treasure in any teaware collection. Whether for personal use or as a gift for friends and family, it reflects the user’s taste and appreciation for traditional craftsmanship.

*Please note: Due to the unique nature of the kiln altered process, the glaze and colors formed during firing are one-of-a-kind. Therefore, each piece of teaware is unique. All orders will be shipped randomly.

This handmade celadon chicken heart cup features a beautiful green glaze that is created through the kiln-altered baking process. During this process, the temperature and atmosphere inside the kiln are carefully controlled to produce variations in colour and texture on the surface of the pottery.

The resulting green glaze on this cup is a stunning example of the unique and unpredictable effects that can be achieved through this ancient technique. The subtle variations in shade and texture give the cup a natural and organic feel, and the delicate chicken heart shape adds a touch of whimsy and charm.

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this cup is entirely handmade and one-of-a-kind. Its smooth, rounded shape feels comfortable in the hand, and the rich, green glaze adds depth and dimension to the surface.

Attention:

• Kiln-fired glaze variations are often unpredictable and can result in a wide range of colours from a single firing.
• The porosity of ceramics varies depending on the materials used, the recipe, the pressure applied, the duration of pressure, the thickness of the body, the firing temperature, and the duration of firing. Generally, the finer the porcelain, the smaller the pores, while the coarser the pottery, the larger the pores.
• Since porcelain is made from clay, the amount of iron spots present in the clay varies depending on the mineral content of the soil. These iron spots are harmless and do not affect the use of the porcelain. Removing them would require the use of chemical materials, which can be damaging to high-quality porcelain.
• Handmade products are not perfect, and each piece can have differences in size, shape, colour, and other aspects.