“Turquoise Ember” Jingdezhen Wood-Fired Porcelain Tea Cups

These striking Jingdezhen tea cups are wood-fired and finished with a vivid turquoise-blue glaze that develops contrasting reddish-purple and warm mineral tones around the rim, foot, and other areas of the surface. The result is a lively, highly individual glaze with considerable depth and variation from cup to cup.

The dominant color is a saturated turquoise that ranges from bright blue-green to deeper teal depending on the thickness of the glaze and the way each piece was exposed to heat inside the kiln. Across this ground are fine reddish and purple speckles, with denser areas of warm coloration gathering naturally around the upper rim and lower portion of the cup.

The glaze continues inside the cup, where the turquoise becomes especially luminous. Fine mottling and subtle shifts in color give the interior considerable visual depth, while the reddish-purple edge creates a natural frame around the tea liquor.

The form itself is simple and comfortable, with a gently rounded lower body, slightly flared upper wall, and a small raised foot. It feels substantial without appearing heavy and works equally well as a personal gongfu cup or as part of a larger tea service.

Because these cups are wood-fired, their appearance is shaped not only by the glaze but also by their individual position in the kiln. Differences in flame path, heat, ash, and atmosphere can cause the glaze to shift dramatically between turquoise, blue-green, reddish-purple, and softer mineral tones.

No two cups will be exactly alike. Some will show more turquoise, while others may develop broader areas of red or purple around the rim and body. Speckling, subtle color gradients, and irregular transitions are all natural characteristics of the firing and are part of what makes each piece unique.

About the Firing

Jingdezhen has been one of China's most important centers of porcelain production for centuries, and wood firing brings an especially organic dimension to its ceramic tradition.

Unlike the highly controlled environment of an electric kiln, a wood-fired kiln is constantly changing during the firing. Flame, ash, oxygen levels, temperature, and the location of the piece inside the kiln all influence how the glaze develops.

The brilliant turquoise and reddish mineral tones seen on these cups therefore arise naturally during firing rather than being painted onto the finished surface. Slight differences between individual cups should be expected and appreciated as part of the character of genuine kiln-fired ware.

In Summary

• Name: “Turquoise Ember” Jingdezhen Wood-Fired Porcelain Tea Cup
  
• Origin: Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, China
  
• Material: Porcelain
  
• Firing: Wood-fired
  
• Glaze: Variegated turquoise with reddish-purple mineral tones
  
• Character: Bright, highly varied, and individually unique
  
• Use: Gongfu tea drinking
• Volume: 85ml per cup (+/- 10ml, measured to the brim)

Each cup will vary naturally in turquoise intensity, reddish-purple coloration, speckling, and glaze movement as a result of the wood-firing process.

** Pictured Gaiwan sold separately here!