this pitcher bears a swollen belly and an elegant spout that curls like a lily's lip

The glaze unfolds in soft

a short spout directing tea cleanly into the waiting cups

is a distinguished student of Huangtan Chen

adds to its rudimentary yet captivating aesthetic

jianyang cup 1 oolong_tieguanyin this pitcher bears a swollenA piece of living history, the craft of producing these tea bowls, known as Jianzhan, has remained fundamentally unchanged in the centuries since its development. First produced during the Northern Song Dynasty (960 1127) in Fujian, the black Jian ware become famed for its somber colour, lustrous sheen, and most of all for the fantastic patterns these produced in conjunction. Its clay is heavy with iron oxide, limestone, and feldspar, and adds a