This is not an ordinary cup.
Its glaze is applied by hand — the thickness, the evenness, the flow, all judged by the artisan’s eye. No machine makes that decision.
Its firing is controlled by an experienced celadon master. Longquan celadon is one of the hardest ceramics to fire — the colour depends entirely on the kiln’s temperature and atmosphere. A slight difference in heat or airflow, and the colour is wrong. Even in a gas kiln, the success rate is low.
Its base carries the artist’s signature — hand-written, not printed.
Four classic glazes
Powder Blue (Fenqing) — The gentlest green. The colour of sky just after rain, when the clouds begin to part. Soft, warm, jade-like to the touch.
Plum Green (Meiziqing) — The clearest green. Like young plums in early summer — deep, luminous, cool as ice.
Rice Yellow (Mihuang) — The most antique green. Like the pale tone of ripened grain in early autumn. Warm, quiet, grounded.
Bean Green (Douqing) — The deepest green. A quiet, soft tone — ancient and warm.
Seven classic forms
Gang Cup — Drawn from the ancient water jar. Wide-rimmed, round-bellied, steady in the hand. Generous and grounded.
Rongtian Cup — Full and rounded, with a gently closed rim. Comfortable in the palm, balanced in use.
Handshake Cup — Small and rounded, with a gently closed rim. Fits perfectly in the hand — steady, warm, easy to hold.
Zen Cup (Chanding) — Round-bellied, with a closed rim and a steady foot. Dignified and still — made for quiet, solitary drinking.
Ring Cup (Banzhi) — Shaped like a thumb ring. Straight-sided, low, and wide — sits close to the fingers, made for holding between thumb and index finger.
Bowl Cup (Wan) — Wider and shallower than the others. Open-rimmed and generous, like a small bowl — easy to drink from, easy to enjoy.
Conical Cup (Douli) — Narrow at the base, wide at the rim, like a bamboo hat. Light and graceful — the curve guides the tea, the wide rim opens the aroma.
For the tea drinker
A master cup — one cup, one person. Chosen by you, used by you, raised by you.
Everyday use — not fussy, not picky. Green tea, black tea, rock tea, vine tea — it works with everything.
Your first celadon — want to try Longquan celadon but not sure where to start? This is the entry point.
A small gift — not expensive, not heavy, but thoughtful. For a tea-loving friend, or someone new to celadon.
