Earthen Traces – Handcrafted Rustic Ceramic Coffee Cup & Saucer Set

Where rustic charm meets contemporary artistry — each cup in this collection carries the tactile warmth of coarse pottery and the quiet refinement of Jingdezhen craftsmanship.

This handcrafted ceramic cup and saucer set embraces the beauty of imperfection with its textured surface and natural glaze. Each piece is shaped by hand, bearing the marks of artisan touch, making it both a practical coffee vessel and an expressive work of design. The circular handle and wide saucer enhance both usability and presentation.

Available in three artisanal finishes: Shadow White — layered with soft brush strokes across earthy brown clay, recalling simplicity and calm. Verdant Mist — deep olive tones mingled with rustic accents, evoking the richness of weathered stone. Gilded Ash — dark grey clay with subtle golden sheen, radiating depth and quiet luxury. Together, they offer a palette of mood, texture, and timeless elegance.

Perfect for coffee, tea, or gifting, this 215ml cup with saucer brings character to everyday rituals — whether at a morning table or as a thoughtful present for design lovers.

Includes (per set): 1 × coffee cup, 1 × saucer

Artisan Heritage

• Made in: Jingdezhen, China — celebrated as the “Porcelain Capital” for over a millennium. Nestled in the hills of Jiangxi Province, Jingdezhen has been the beating heart of Chinese ceramics since the Song dynasty. Once home to imperial kilns producing wares exclusively for the royal court, its legacy lives on through generations of master artisans. Every piece from this region carries echoes of dynastic elegance, time-honored technique, and cultural refinement.
• Crafted by: Master artisans who inherit generations of traditional ceramic craftsmanship, shaping each piece entirely by hand using slow wheel-throwing and brush-glazing techniques
• Firing process: Kiln-fired at 1325°C for a full 24 hours, undergoing a rigorous 72-step journey from clay to porcelain — each stage enhancing its strength, resilience, and delicate tactility
• Legacy: Jingdezhen porcelain has graced royal courts, Silk Road caravans, and collectors' shelves around the world. Today, its legacy lives on through a quiet elegance that blends timeless form with contemporary soul

Product Details

• Set Includes: 1 × coffee cup, 1 × saucer
• Dimensions: Cup: 11.5cm × 5.6cm; Saucer: 14.2cm × 1.6cm
• Capacity: 215ml
  
• Material: High-fired porcelain with hand-brushed white slip coating (fen-yin technique). Matte finish with natural surface variation and exposed clay texture.
• Finish: High-quality glaze with subtle brushstroke texture, creating a refined visual depth. Each piece is handcrafted, with natural variations in tone and pattern that make it uniquely its own.

Meaning & Symbolism

• Fen-yin (white slipware) is a traditional ceramic technique where a layer of white slip — a liquid clay — is brushed over a darker clay body. Instead of smoothing or covering completely, the artist leaves the surface intentionally uneven, allowing the underlying material to show through. This creates a unique texture and depth, often called a “white blush” or “ceramic makeup.” Each piece reveals hand-brushed marks, thickness variations, and natural imperfections — a celebration of imperfection and individuality in handmade porcelain.
• Sculpted Texture — Each cup reveals bold hand-shaped facets and natural brushstrokes, giving the surface a raw, tactile depth. Every sip carries the grounding presence of coarse clay and the artistry of imperfection.
• Earthy Palette — Shadow White, Verdant Mist, and Gilded Ash glazes capture shifting moods of nature — from quiet dawn to mossy stone to glowing embers — forming a harmonious balance of warmth and rustic elegance.
• Everyday Elegance — With a 215ml capacity and wide saucer, the set is designed for both daily rituals and refined gatherings, equally suited for morning coffee, tea breaks, or thoughtful gifting.

Craft Story: Jingdezhen

• Historical Significance: Nestled in the misty mountains of Jiangxi Province, Jingdezhen has been crafting porcelain for over 1,700 years. The city’s kilns once produced imperial ware for Tang and Song courts, setting technical and aesthetic benchmarks that shaped East Asian ceramics for centuries.
• Ceramic Innovation: Beyond its legacy, Jingdezhen is a crucible of innovation — where traditional hand-throwing and glazing coexist with contemporary experimentation. Studios in the region continue to develop unique clay bodies, custom glazes, and sculptural techniques passed down through apprenticeships and artist guilds.
• Cultural Impact: From monochrome wares to celadon and blue-and-white porcelain, Jingdezhen’s artistic output has long been a cultural ambassador of Chinese craftsmanship. Its ceramics have crossed oceans, appearing in museum collections and collector circles from Kyoto to Amsterdam.
• Modern Renaissance: Today’s Jingdezhen is a vibrant creative hub — home to thousands of independent ceramic artists, design studios, and cross-disciplinary collaborations. The city bridges past and present, producing work that is both deeply rooted and globally relevant.
  

Care Instructions

• Dishwasher safe — suitable for everyday machine washing
• Microwave safe — porcelain is heat-resistant and beverage-safe

• Also easy to hand wash — gentle cleaning preserves the artisan texture and glaze