While pitchers are often considered more for utility than for aesthetics, this one stands on its own when it comes to artistry. The clear lines of its striking, octagonal shape draw in the eyes, guiding them from the bottom to the top like guardrails on a mountainous path laid out with exquisite, pure silver. Sneaking a glance beyond the peak reveals its snow-white porcelain interior, eager to be filled with the finest teas. The textured silver exterior provides not just a pleasant haptic stimulus, but also a sense of security when handling this pitcher. It’s also where the true artistic genius behind this piece can be found. As time goes on and this pitcher is used more and more, the silver will oxidize and change its color. Each grasp of the hand, every drop of tea that rolls down from the spout, will be imprinted on its surface, creating a living and expanding memory of every tea session it has shared with you, making every time you use it a bit more meaningful. This is not just a stunning piece of teaware art, but also a tea companion for life that will tell your story. 

If you're worried that pretty much every other piece of your teaware will pale beside this stellar pitcher, we've got you covered: a matching tea cup and gaiwan are available to complete your setup.

Written by Sigi

About the artist

The ceramicist Ran Xiangfei, also known as Ryan, is one of the most prominent artists in Jingdezhen, often called “The Porcelain Capital” and the pinnacle of Chinese ceramic production. We first met him in 2019 at his studio, Yi Yang Yi Sheng, during a tea journey to the city. Impressed by his unique and creative pieces, we selected several for our tea shop. Since that first visit, Ryan’s team has expanded, his studio has moved to a larger atelier, and he is currently developing a second location. Below is the video recorded during our latest visit, in spring 2024.