Handmade Jianyang Jianzhan Tea Cup – Gold Oil Spot 150ml

This Jianzhan cup differs from TeaVivre’s other wares in that its firing process is a bit more complicated: where most of the process is similar or the same, the maker adds melted gold into this one, and unites the gold with the glaze during the second firing. Because of this expensive, meticulous process, the rate of production of these cups is fairly low.

The crystals on the glaze are bright golden “oil” spots, with a clear metallic luster. These spots show a distinctive visual shimmer under various light sources, showcasing the high-quality You Di Zhan. These spots are like duckweeds floating on top of the glaze, grouping randomly together and sometimes combining into larger or different shapes, brightening the cup as a whole.

These cups have a full crystal texture and rich appearance, and after being used for a while, the Jianzhan takes on a somewhat different metallic luster, with different types of tea bringing out different colors from the gold.

You Di Zhan have strong crystal texture and rich levels. Being used for a period of time, the Jianzhan emits a different metallic luster. Also different tea liquids will raise different colors.

It is heavy, feeling dense and thick when held; the large mouth of the cup makes it convenient and easy to watch the tea soup; the original glazed color of the material is black, bringing out the color of the tea; and when using Jianzhan for the first time, there is no need to “season” the material like with Zisha teapots. The ashy, earthy smell of the kiln can be cleaned off with fresh, warm water, and then after a boiling rinse of a few minutes, the cup is ready to use.

Jianzhan is a well-known Chinese porcelain of the Han nationality. It is one of the eight famous porcelain types of the Song dynasty, tracing back further than a thousand years; it takes its name from its origin of Jian An county during that time. Scholars and tea drinkers during the time period strongly advocated the comparison of different tea types, and as such required tea sets of a high quality along with the tea itself. Jianzhan has dense, tight pores conducive to the retention of heat, making it appropriate for this use.

In 2011, the workmanship of Jianzhan crafting was included on the list of national intangible cultural heritage.