In this bustling and troubled world, we are always in pursuit of a peaceful haven to soothe our weary souls. A tea room is precisely such a place filled with warmth and elegance. The tea utensils in the tea room carry the warmth of communication between people. With a few cups of fragrant tea and two or three close friends, the friendship deepens during the chatting. And the study is also a spiritual pure land. The stationery in the study reflects a person's self - cultivation and temperament as an independent individual. These seemingly small items, however, contain profound charm, allowing us to feel inner peace and contentment as we use them.
Lower the curtain in the busy city to seek a refined tea - drinking experience, quietly savor the tea, and feel the inner joy and ease brought by a cup of tea in the study. Today, Tongxin She Teahouse recommends a very special "round water - storage purple sand tea tray with a carved unicorn".
This tea tray can be regarded as a masterpiece full of spirituality and ingenuity. It is the work of Chen Zhen, a craftsman of arts and crafts. It is handmade, and the carving is completed by Teacher Mu Qing. The clay used is precious original - mine Duan clay.
This tea tray draws on the beauty of nature and its craftsmanship is exquisitely wonderful. The overall shape is derived from a section of bamboo. Made of carefully selected Duan clay, the deep - and - shallow interlaced scars, knots, and bud eyes on the work are natural and realistic, stretching and curving naturally. There is no sign of the chisel's work, yet the true texture of bamboo is vividly presented. The thick and lovely unicorn carved on the tray surface implies attracting wealth and treasures, adding auspiciousness to the tea tray. The unicorn, as a traditional Chinese auspicious beast, combines the beautiful features of various animals and is regarded as a symbol of good luck. It can bring good harvests, fortune, longevity, and peace. Placed on the tea table, it is not only practical but also寄托 people's yearning for wealth and good luck. The ladybugs and other things in the scars are all exquisitely modeled from purple sand, with every detail clearly visible, so lifelike that they are almost indistinguishable from the real things. The wonder of the concept and the fineness of the craftsmanship are amazing. Art originates from nature and returns to nature. The whole work is full of wit and has a natural artistic conception.
Owning such a purple sand tea tray means not only having a practical tea utensil but also possessing a work of art carrying profound cultural connotations and exquisite craftsmanship. During the time of making and savoring tea, it can add a unique charm to your tea room and also allow you to feel the creator's ingenuity and love for life as you appreciate and play with it.
If you also long to be accompanied by this auspiciousness and ingenuity in the time filled with the fragrance of tea, why not bring this purple sand tea tray home and start a unique tea - tasting journey…
Chen Zhen was born in 1986 and has been passionate about sculpture since childhood. In 2000, he embarked on the path of purple sand design and production. He studied under Jiang Yihua, a senior craftsman of arts and crafts and the daughter of Jiang Rong, the master of flower - shaped purple sand wares, and became the inheritor of the "Jiang's School". In 2018, he officially became a disciple of Master Zhang Dahua, a master of Chan painting, and became the fourth - generation successor of the Qi (Baishi) school of art. Chen Zhen has never stopped learning on his creative journey. He graduated from Nanjing Normal University with a bachelor's degree in 2017. He usually observes nature carefully and is good at seeking creative inspiration from life. Whether it is an ant, a frog, or a pineapple, etc., everything he molds into shape is vivid. His works highlight a natural, realistic, simple, vivid, and nature - returning artistic style through the language of shape. His artistic journey is also full of wonderful moments. In August 2019, he participated in the joint exhibition of Master Zhang Dahua's disciples at the Wendeng Museum in Weihai, and his work "Share the Blessings" was collected by the Wendeng Museum in Weihai. In September of the same year, he participated in the joint exhibition of Master Zhang Dahua's Chan - painting disciples at the Weihai Art Museum Art Expo. In 2019, his work "Five Sons Achieving Success" won the Gold Award of the "Ziyun Cup" at the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Boutique Exhibition. In October 2019, he participated in the "Jiang Rong Cup" Purple Sand Flower - shaped Ware Competition at the Tenth China Yixing International Ceramic Culture and Art Festival to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Jiangsu Province, and his "Toad and Lotus Pod Tea Set" won the Bronze Award.