Zen Face – Handcrafted Ceramic Tea Cup with Silver Relief Gift Set

This is an artisanal porcelain tea cup — a harmonious fusion of Zen-inspired aesthetics and symbolic craftsmanship, perfect for mindful tea rituals or distinguished gifting.

Fired at high temperatures, the cup features a dual-faced relief: one side in silver depicts serene compassion, while the other reveals the fierce vitality of a mythical beast. Together, they symbolize the balance of light and shadow, good and evil, and the transformative power of a single thought.

The mineral-rich glaze, with its nuanced, weathered tones, evokes the timeless beauty of ancient grottoes. Its organic form rests comfortably in the hand, making it as functional as it is artistic.

Includes: 1 × Tea Cup, 1 × Gift Box, 1 × Gift Bag.

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, 1 × Gift Box, 1 × Gift Bag.
• Dimensions: Tea Cup: 7.5 × 7.2 cm
• Capacity:Tea Cup: 120ml
  
• 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 cup draws inspiration from the Zen philosophy of duality — in a single thought lies the choice between benevolence and malice, light and shadow. The sculpted face, half serene and half fierce, embodies the delicate balance of opposing forces, urging mindful reflection with every sip.
• Meticulously hand-carved and fired through multiple complex ceramic processes, each cup features an irregular silhouette and a deeply textured surface. Layers of glaze create a mottled, weathered patina reminiscent of ancient stone, giving each piece its own distinct character.
• No two are exactly alike — each vessel is a unique work of art, blending craftsmanship and individuality into a functional object with profound meaning.
  

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