China is the cradle of porcelain. In English, the word "china" is synonymous with "China" itself. Among the objects that can represent China, porcelain surely ranks high. And when it comes to porcelain, the first place that comes to mind is Jingdezhen.
Today, Tongxin She Teahouse brings you an elegant and exquisite "cowpea red internally painted small gaiwan" that inherits the beauty of ancient glazes. With a capacity of 100cc, it offers three internal patterns for tea lovers to choose from.
Ice Plum Pattern: The inner wall of the bowl features ice plum patterns, also known as "ice-cracked plum patterns". It uses thick blue-and-white pigment to paint ice cracks, and light blue-and-white pigment with a touch of晕染 (yunran, a soft blurring effect) to outline white plum blossoms. The texture of the ice-cracked glaze perfectly blends with the plum patterns, with blue and white contrasting each other. The plum blossoms in full bloom in the cold seem to exude a cold fragrance.
Fish and Algae Pattern: The classic fish and algae patterns on the inner wall of the bowl are the finishing touch. Indigo and bright white interweave, like shrinking a Jiangnan ink painting onto the porcelain surface: the agility of fish wagging their tails, the gracefulness of algae stretching, all hiding the implicit charm of traditional blue-and-white porcelain in the brushstrokes.
Dragon Pattern: The dragon has been a symbol of power, nobility and honor since ancient times, and is also a representative element of Chinese culture. This bowl depicts the scene of "flying dragon soaring through clouds", with the auspicious meaning of "rapid promotion to high positions". Adorned with the classic five-clawed dragon of the Ming Dynasty, the dragon soars through clouds and mist, showing great momentum. The brushwork is exquisite and delicate: the dragon is covered with scales, neatly arranged; its claws are sharp, and its eyes are round and wide open; the cloud patterns and dragon beards are depicted with meticulous detail, presenting a magnificent yet refined look.
For colored glazes, the clay and glaze materials are crucial.
The clay formula of this gaiwan adopts the binary formula that has been used since the Yuan Dynasty, and has been improved on this basis to make the body more delicate.
The glaze color is based on cowpea red glaze, which evolved from Lang red glaze. It is an innovative red glaze variety in Jingdezhen in the late Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, and also a famous product among Qing Dynasty colored glazes, with names like "beauty's blush" and "peach blossom slice".
Its glaze color is bright and vivid, just as described in the poem: "Red as the morning glow when it is about to rise." To pursue the ancient charm, the glaze color of this gaiwan is based on the ancient formula and improved.
Since the color development of copper at high temperatures is very unstable, it requires extremely high control over raw materials and firing temperature to produce pure cowpea red.
The finished product is perfectly red, with a flowing quality. A little more would make it too gaudy, and a little less would make it tacky. The glaze color is lustrous, fresh and beautiful, elegant and dignified.
This gaiwan has a round and full shape, classical and dignified.
The round belly and wide abdomen can hold well, and the tea pours out smoothly. The slightly flared bowl mouth offers a comfortable grip, making it not easy to get scalded.
With a capacity of 100ml, it is just right for two or three friends to enjoy tea together.