Both nifty and elegant, this three-piece tea set pairs classic ceramic technique with a streamlined design for the classy gongfu-cha-ist on the go, and is the work of one of the more unusual Jingdezhen ceramicists we've had the pleasure of working with, Ryan. Two cylindrical cups, one slimmer than the other, tuck inside one another and in turn inside a houhin-style or 'easy gaiwan', with eared handles and a built-in filter, along with a simple placemat for all three vessels. The set can be packed neatly inside the accompanying hard-shelled carrying case and taken for a tea session in a park around the corner or in a train station on the other side of the world, where it can be shared with a choice companion.

Along with its functional aspects—the net filter incorporated into the lid, a short spout directing tea cleanly into the waiting cups, and the handles avoiding singed fingertips—the gaiwan features its creator's propensity for luster in a golden coating on the lid. All three vessels incorporate the delicate cut-outs known as 'linglong' ('open eye') or 'rice grain' into their bodies, allowing light to pass through the translucent glaze and reveal the tea within. Ensconced in its bright green case and with its cute beak-like spout, this bird-inspired design will be a pleasure to share your travels with.

Written by Dimitri

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 considered the epicenter 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. Watch our last visit, in which we sourced this very piece, in the video below: