Gently hand wash with warm water and a soft cloth or sponge, using a mild washing-up liquid as necessary. Do not put in dishwasher or microwave.
Gaiwan
Xu Ni II
Jiang Liqiang
SKU
7255
Touched by the flame, this stunning wood-fired Gaiwan with pouring spout is baked for over sixty hours and glazed with soda to achieve an organic, one-of-a-kind surface finish reminiscent of splash marks in traditional Chinese ink paintings. This masterpiece is part of the Xu Ni (須彌) collection named after the sacred Buddhist five-peaked mountain.
| Product | Gaiwan with spout, brown, green and grey |
| Maker | Jiang Liqiang |
| Origin | Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, China |
| Dimensions | Ø10.1cm x 8.4cm, foot Ø4cm |
| Volume | 200ml |
| Weight | 250g |
| Material | Porcelain |
| Kiln temperature | 1200-1230°C |
| Artist's mark | Signature on base |
| Packaging | Gift box |
Special Note: The finish on wood- and soda-fired ceramics is unpredictable, therefore colour, glazing and texture may vary considerably to the product shown here – please enjoy the uniqueness of each piece!
In stock
Jiang Liqiang 蔣麗強
Born in Zhangshu, Jiangxi Province in 1984, Jiang Liqiang studied at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in 2003, graduating under Professor Huang Sheng. He then studied at the Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute, also in Jingdezhen, under Mr Li Jianshen: founder of the Sanbao International Ceramics Village as well as a globally-renowned master potter. During his four years of work in Sanbao, Liqiang was widely exposed to contemporary arts and ceramics from Europe, the USA, Japan, South Korea and other countries, which have all come to inform his unique and original style.
Gaiwan 蓋碗
The Gaiwan (literally “lidded bowl”) is a classic piece of Chinese teaware used to infuse tea leaves, particularly large leaf Oolong, Green and White teas. Made from a variety of materials including porcelain, glass or Yixing clay, the Gaiwan consists of a small bowl and lid, with or without a matching saucer, and can be used as both a brewing and drinking vessel. Developments in tea ritual and preparation during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) gave rise to the Gaiwan and it is still widely used across China today in domestic as well as formal settings, such as in Gongfu tea ceremonies and tastings. Gaiwan make for exceptionally fragrant infusions owing to their curved shape and open design that amplifies the aroma. Those made of fine porcelain help absorb the heat in a way that doesn’t shock or damage the tea leaves, resulting in a mellower brew.
Jingdezhen 景德鎮
The birthplace of porcelain, Jingdezhen has been producing the finest Chinese ceramics for over a thousand years and was home to some of China’s most important imperial kilns. Surrounded by breathtaking nature in the northeastern corner of Jiangxi province, the remoteness of the small city has helped preserve age-old traditions that are still in practice to this day. When Europeans first encountered Chinese porcelain back in the 14th century, they concluded that this ethereal yet solid “white gold” could only have been made by magic. The secret? Kaolin: the soft white clay essential to manufacturing porcelain, named after the Gaoling mountain in Jingdezhen where this resource was available in abundance.
