Silk Road Reverie — Handcrafted Jingdezhen Porcelain Tea Cup & Saucer Set

This is an artisanal porcelain tea cup — a Jingdezhen-crafted piece inspired by the celestial murals of Dunhuang, blending ancient symbolism with serene modern artistry. Designed for elegant tea rituals and mindful gatherings.

Fired at high temperatures, this handcrafted tea cup features a delicately hand-painted motif of “Feitian” — the flying celestial beings from the Dunhuang caves, symbolizing freedom, grace, and spiritual transcendence. The intricate brushwork and golden accents echo the ethereal movement of silk ribbons in midair, reflecting the rhythm of wind and light.

The conical form, matching lid, and footed saucer are proportioned for both beauty and balance. The shape allows tea leaves to unfurl gracefully, while the wide rim and stable base enhance aroma and flavor. Glazed in soft ivory with accents of amber and cobalt blue, it embodies both tranquility and majesty — a vessel that carries the poetry of the Silk Road into every pour.

Includes: 1 × Tea Cup (with lid and 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 × Tea Cup (with lid and saucer)
• Dimensions: Tea Cup: 10 × 12 cm
• Capacity:Tea Cup: 130ml
  
• 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.
• This tea cup draws inspiration from the celestial beauty of Dunhuang — where flying deities and desert winds intertwine in timeless art. The design captures the fluid grace of ancient murals through delicate hand-painting and flowing golden lines, symbolizing freedom, movement, and divine harmony. Each piece celebrates the spiritual artistry of the Silk Road, where culture and craftsmanship meet.
• The cup’s conical form with matching lid and saucer reflects balance and refinement. Its high-footed base and flared silhouette evoke a sense of elevation and ritual, while the lid preserves aroma and warmth — ideal for savoring oolong or pu’er teas in a tranquil setting.
• The glaze reveals layers of amber, ivory, and cobalt blue, echoing the desert hues of Dunhuang at dusk. Fired at high temperatures, the porcelain achieves both translucence and durability, allowing the gold accents to shimmer softly under light — a modern expression of ancient Chinese elegance.

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