Classic Porcelain Tea Set

This exquisite teapot with teacups combines the highest level of traditional Chinese porcelain craftsmanship with a modern, elegant form. This set would serve as a perfect first gongfu-style teapot for someone that wants to venture into brewing high-quality tea in the traditionally Chinese way but also has very discerning tastes when it comes to style and tradition. The uniqueness and quality of these pieces would also be a welcome addition to the even the most ardent connoisseur’s collection. Traditional gongfu teapots and teacups are very small compared to western styles and these are particularly delicate in form and appearance.  
These pieces are part of the Dehua+ collection, called so because they are crafted in the renowned Dehua kilns of Fujian province and selected because of their elegant form that speaks to both traditional and modern sensibility. Although Chinese white porcelain that resembles what we know today can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 CE), Dehua porcelain gained international notoriety during the Ming dynasty in 17th and 18th centuries, as it began to dominate the international market. The original term “Blanc de Chine” is the French term for Dehua white porcelain from the Ming Dynasty. In 2006, the traditional firing technique of Dehua white porcelain was listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritages in China.
Dehua porcelain is known for its alabaster color, high gloss, high thermal stability and resistance to temperature, pressure, abrasion, and corrosion. Being some of the thinnest porcelain in the world, it has a fragile beauty, especially appropriate for tea preparation because the color of the tea can be glimpsed through the ware itself. The production of white porcelain requires very clean soil with few impurities and a pure white color. Lu Yu, the tea saint that lived during the Tang dynasty wrote in “The Book of Tea” that white porcelain is the best for brewing tea, with an appearance as clean as snow.
The flower-shaped cups are a traditional motif that began in the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279 CE) but Dehua tulip-shaped porcelain cups were a favorite of Qing dynasty (1644-1911 CE) emperors as tulips brought from Europe became popular in China. The artist’s love for the tulip is obvious with the subtle beauty of a bloom in the middle of opening. This tulip white porcelain teacup is a simple yet elegant combination of the past and the modern.