Aegis Shui Ji Jian Zhan Cup

CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK

This handmade Jian Zhan cup is one-of-a-kind and available while supplies last

Crafted By Lin Xi

Deep burnished bronze, dramatic silver, ripples of deep black from the kiln’s heat signature evoke an ancient shield, full of a thousand years of patina, unearthed from a forgotten place.

This hand-made cup was fired in a traditional Dragon Kiln (Lao Long Yao) in Shui Ji, the home of the Song Dynasty Jian Zhan tradition.

Only one out of every ten "cai shao" wood fired Dragon Kiln cups typically survives the firing process and each piece is a unique fortuitous chance occurrence. The heat, geometry and placement in the kiln and the specific wood used in firing yielded this spectacular pattern.

This cup is impressed with Master Lin Xi’s seal on the foot and comes in a gift box with Lin Xi’s signed collectors certificate.

Technical Specifications
- hand thrown : yes
- hand glazed : yes
- apprx weight : 177 g
- apprx. capacity : 100 ml
- diameter : 9.5 cm
- height : 5 cm
- packaging : custom box

Meet the Artist: Lin Xi

Master potter Lin Xi set up the Taishou Jianlou Research Institute to study Han and Song Dynasty tea culture and firing techniques. He is dedicated to reviving the lost ancient art of Jian Zhan through meticulous research, hand made glazing and clays personally excavated from Song Dynasty sites.

Unlike many studios, Lin Xi personally oversees every aspect of his work without help. As a single artist, Lin Xi makes his own glazes, throws his own cups, and fires every batch personally.

Lin Xi works with our partner Li Xiangxiand the Yangxian Institute on building Jian Zhan fit to revive the Song Dynasty style dian cha ceremony, and has won many awards for his striking work. We are excited to represent his rare and highly collectible art for the first time outside of China.

“Bo Re Zhan”16th Annual China Art Exhibition
Traditional Arts Category Gold Medal

“Cai Shao”April 2019 Shen Zhen
Golden Phoenix Art Competition Gold Medal

“Mu Lan Zhan”June 2018 Hua Li Competition
Silver Medal

ABOUT JIAN ZHAN

"Jian Zhan pottery is made in Shui Ji, Jian Yang, an ancient art dating back to the Han dynasty, also known as Jian Yao. It is the most famous of the eight great pottery schools of the Song Dynasty.

While Jian Zhan was fired as early as the Han dynasty, it became an imperial tribute art in the Song, offered to the emperor.

Because Jian Zhan is incredibly difficult to produce, and very few pieces fire successfully to finish, it is an incredibly costly and laborious art. Tribute quality pieces were picked from countless firings and countless individual pieces. Jian Zhan became known as “min yao, guan yong” the labor of the people, the pleasure of the court.

Song Huizong, emperor of the Northern Song elaborates on Jian Zhan in his treatise on tea Da Guan Tu Lun: “Jian Zhan is a prized midnight blue, woven with lines of jade.”

In the Song dynasty tea competitions, Jian Zhan was the most suitable preparation vessel, and with the imperial endorsement, every Song scholarly aristocrat would part with huge sums to acquire the finest pieces. Cultured Song poets praised the refined enjoyment of Jian Zhan. During this golden age, Jian Zhan was brought to Japan where it became known as Tenmokku, a Japanese national treasure.

Jian Zhan is fire and earth, united with perfect skill, a high art in the world of pottery."

- Lin Xi
Jianyang Jianan Taishou Jianlou Research Institute