Handmade Jianyang Jianzhan Tea Cup – Jin Zun

Jianzhan, or Jian ware, represents the pinnacle of ancient Chinese black porcelain, and is an art of pottery that combines earth with fire. Using clay and glaze rich in iron content from Jianyang as its raw material, it has to undergo about thirteen separate Chinese traditional handicrafts until completion, such as the selection of the porcelain and setting of the model. The gorgeous patterns are naturally produced in a kiln at temperatures of 1300C; because of this, each cup takes on a unique and one-of-a-kind design, adding to the distinctive charm of the ware.

These jianzhan tea cups are made by Master Huang Tao, and there are two types to choose from. One is a typical design with a circular rim, while the other is a unique shape with a flower-like rim. It has a cylindrical base, similar to a flower's pedicle, and when held in the hand, it resembles a flower, which is highly unique. The glaze is golden pink with a faint blue shine. The entire appearance is beautiful and refreshing. The texture is vivid and distinct, demonstrating great craftsmanship.

Mr. Huang Tao is a Fujian Province handicraft master and a national first-level advanced artisan. His works are in the permanent collections of various museums. His works encapsulate the spirit and distinctive beauty of traditional Chinese ceramic manufacturing in terms of production technology, modeling design, and decorative techniques, making them valuable collectibles.

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.