Ru Ware Goldfish Teacup

This unique handmade stoneware teacup combines the style of ancient Ru ware with an “open glaze” that transforms over decades of use and an exquisitely hand-painted traditional motif.

 Ru ware was made during a short period during the Song dynasty (960-1279 CE) in Ruzhou, Hunan province. The quality and desirability of Ru ware led to the Ru kiln being known as one of the five most important kilns in Chinese ceramics and the first “tributary ware” collected as a form of taxation.

 The style is known for its glazes that vary slightly in color from duck egg blue to the more jade-green celadon. Original Ru ware was produced for a very short time, making it exceedingly rare, until pieces were brought to kilns in Jindezhen in the 1700s to imitate the style. Workshops and artisans in Jingdezhen continue making wares in this highly prized style today. “Open glazes” are the result of a unique production process that results in hairline cracks in the glaze to form over a long period of time as the wares are heated and cooled. If used for tea preparation over many years, these small cracks in the glaze begin to form unique patterns that are made apparent by the color of the tea seeping into the cracks, resembling fine jade. Therefore, these pieces tend to become family heirlooms due to their becoming more beautiful and unique over the course of decades of use.

These cups also feature a striking depiction of a single goldfish. Goldfish began being raised as pets and used for aesthetic purposes in traditional gardens in the Song dynasty. They have long been regarded as auspicious and are often used as a motif in Chinese art to bring luck to the owner. Goldfish are also considered one of the “eight jewels” of Tibetan Buddhism, representing freedom and transcendence.