Spiral Gradient – Handcrafted Kiln-Change Ceramic Coffee Cup & Saucer

Where flowing gradients meet spiral textures — this handcrafted ceramic cup and saucer collection celebrates the artistry of kiln-change glaze and the elegance of mindful tea & coffee rituals.

Each piece is shaped with a sculptural spiral body, while the kiln-change glaze reveals flowing color transitions — from Golden Amber, with its warm shift from soft gold to deep ochre, to Dreamy Violet, blending lilac and twilight purple, and Mountain Mist, a refreshing gradient of jade green fading into delicate rose pink. No two cups are exactly alike, each bearing the singular beauty of hand-applied glaze.

Perfect for coffee, tea, or afternoon gatherings, the wide-rimmed cup and matching saucer offer both practicality and refined presentation. With its unique colors and tactile beauty, this set also makes an ideal gift for friends and loved ones.

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: × coffee cup, 1 × saucer
• Dimensions: 9.0 × 7.0 cm; Saucer: Ø14.0 × 1.5 cm
• Capacity: 280ml
  
• 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.
• Spiral Elegance — The sculptural spiral body creates a dynamic rhythm, reflecting the flow of hand-thrown clay and adding depth to the form.
• Flowing Colors — Multi-layer kiln-change glaze transitions naturally across the surface, blending hues like gold, violet, and misty green-pink into a vivid gradient that feels alive.
• Unique Character — Each piece emerges differently from the firing, with glaze variations and subtle textures that make it one of a kind.
• Layered Beauty — The combination of spiral ridges and color transitions gives a sense of movement and visual layering, echoing the wabi-sabi charm of handmade ceramics.

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