A teacup, a common utensil in daily life, is small and exquisite, yet it contains endless charm and sentiment, just like a silent old friend, quietly accompanying people in their tea-drinking moments.
Today, Tongxin She Teahouse recommends a "Yuan · Auspicious Dragon Press-Hand Cup" from Jingdezhen.
This cup has a diameter of 83 millimeters, a height of 42 millimeters, and a capacity of 100 milliliters. It is delicately sized. Its unique sense of weight when held is a wonderful balance between art and practicality. When grasped in the palm, the slightly flared rim fits perfectly into the tiger's mouth, feeling steady and snug, as if it becomes one with the hand, demonstrating the ancient craftsmen's acute perception of ergonomics and their superb skills.
The auspicious dragon pattern decorating the cup body is the highlight. The auspicious dragon is fierce and magnificent, with a vigorous body and fine and orderly dragon scales, shuttling and tumbling among the clouds and mists, looking vivid. The blue and white hand-painting technique is truly remarkable. The painters use delicate brushstrokes and excellent skills to blend the shades of blue and white just right. The color is a deep and serene blue, and the scattered brownish-black rust spots add a touch of primitiveness and solemnity of Yuan blue and white porcelain, as if narrating the vicissitudes of time. Every stroke and every shade of color reflects the craftsmen's unwavering dedication and infinite love for art, making the dragon seem to leap out of the cup.
The application of the copper inlay technique adds a touch of luxury and sturdiness. The copper wrapping around the rim and bottom of the cup has a warm and smooth luster, forming a sharp contrast with the coolness of the blue and white, yet they coexist harmoniously. The firmness of the copper effectively protects the cup body and enriches the overall appearance visually, creating a unique sense of luxury.
The Yuan · Auspicious Dragon Press-Hand Cup is not only a beautiful piece of porcelain but also a precious carrier of historical culture. It witnesses the magnificence of the ceramic art in the Yuan Dynasty, bearing the ancient people's respect and reverence for the dragon totem, as well as their yearnings and wishes for a better life. Now, it travels through time and space, presenting us with the outstanding elegance of the ceramic art of the Yuan Dynasty, allowing people to feel the infinite charm of art and the profound essence of culture during the process of appreciation, and to experience the vastness and grandeur of the long history of the river of time within a teacup.