Wash by hand with warm water and a soft cloth or sponge, using a mild detergent if necessary. Do not put in the dishwasher or microwave.
Gong Dao Bei
Tao Shan
Wu Haoyu
SKU
7052
Exquisite Gong Dao Bei, handmade by famous Chinese artist, Wu Haoyu. Made from handpicked Nixing clay from the mountains of Guangxi province. With its beautiful, shimmering surface, this filigree Gong Dao Bei is perfect for serving tea in authentic Gongfu ceremonies, or to simply add a touch of luxury to an informal tea session. "Tao Shan" (桃山) literally means a mountain of peaches and in Chinese culture, signifies a wish for happiness and long life.
| Product | Gong Dao Bei serving bowl | ||
| Artist | Wu Haoyu | ||
| Origin | Nanning, Guangxi | ||
| Dimensions | H 6.5cm x 9.5cm, Ø 8cm | ||
| Volume | 150ml | ||
| Weight | 60g | ||
| Material | Ceramic from Nixing clay | ||
| Artist stamp | Studio stamp on the underside | ||
| Packaging | Beautifully crafted gift box |
In stock
Wu Haoyu 吳昊宇
Wu Haoyu is Associate Professor of Art and Ceramic Design at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing. He has exhibited at major art events such as the Venice Biennale and the London Design Festival as well as numerous art museums and even the Chinese Embassy in Italy. In addition to vases and abstract artworks, the tea connoisseur enjoys creating tea ceramics, which are unparalleled in their elegance and lightness. Wu Haoyu developed the aesthetics of many of his works, which centre on black tones, through years of intensive study of the clay of the Guangxi region, which he collects himself and processes using traditional methods. For Wu Haoyu, ceramics is a bridge between art and design, as both the work itself and the interplay with the surroundings each evoke a particularly aesthetic experience.
Gong Dao Bei 公道杯
The Gong Dao Bei or Cha Hai (茶海 "tea sea") is a serving bowl, typically made of glass or ceramic that is used to distribute the tea evenly to all guests. In a teapot or gaiwan, the tea is unevenly distributed, making its flavour similarly uneven; tea should therefore first be poured into the gong dao bei in order to mix the flavours. This ensures that all guests enjoy an evenly balanced tea, an essential part of the gongfu tea ceremony experience. The gong dao bei can also be used to cool the water to the desired temperature before brewing the tea, similar to the Japanese yuzamashi.
Nixing clay 坭興陶
Along with Yixing, Jianshui and Chaozhou, Nixing clay is one of the best-known materials in Chinese pottery for creating high-quality tea accessories. Traditionally, the clay comes from the area around the Qinjiang River in Guangxi province, which to this day is the heart of the 1300-year-old tradition of creating Nixing pottery. Unlike industrial producers, Wu Haoyu personally collects and hand-mixes natural clay from deposits in the surrounding mountains for his works. The clay, which is very rich in iron, is usually left with a metallic black finish after firing, creating a charming matte sheen that is further enhanced by the roughness of the surface. Ceramics made from Nixing clay are suitable for all types of tea (except fruit and intense herbal teas), rounding off the taste slightly for a less astringent and more harmonious flavour profile. We particularly recommend this ceramic for darker Chinese teas such as Pu Er and Liu Bao teas as well as black and oolong teas.
