Qing Hua Lotus Vines Round Palm Tea Cup

In the tradition of Jingdezhen's imperial kilns, where the yashou cup was shaped to rest in the scholar's palm as naturally as a stone worn smooth by a river, the Qing Hua Lotus Vines Round Palm Tea Cup renders the classical lianli zhi (连理枝) motif in deep cobalt blue across a generously rounded, flat-footed form. Lotus blooms and scrolling vines wind continuously around the body in an unbroken, interlocking embrace, framed above and below by fine border bands in the style of the Ming imperial kilns. Hand-painted in the qinghua tradition on high-fired porcelain, it is a cup as settled in the hand as it is pleasing to the eye.

Key Features

• Material: High-fired porcelain with hand-painted qinghua (blue-and-white) underglaze
• Form: Yashou cup (压手杯) — Round Palm Cup
• Diameter: 8.3cm · Height: 5.2cm · Capacity: 120ml
• Ideal for: Gongfu tea ceremony, daily tea ritual, gifting and collecting

Artisan Craftsmanship

Each cup is individually hand-painted by artisans trained in the qinghua tradition, a technique born in the Yuan Dynasty and perfected across the Ming and Qing imperial kilns of Jingdezhen. The lotus blooms and winding vines are drawn freehand in cobalt underglaze before the first firing, their stems traced in a single continuous line that loops and branches without lifting the brush. The silver-traced outlines that define each motif add a subtle luminosity to the cobalt, lending the pattern a refinement that reveals itself more fully the longer the cup is held. The yashou form itself is among the most considered in the gongfu tradition: wide enough to warm the palm, weighted enough to feel substantial, and shaped so that the drinker's fingers naturally find their rest.

Cultural Symbolism

The lianli zhi, the intertwining branch, is one of the most deeply felt motifs in Chinese visual culture. Its origins lie in a Tang Dynasty poem by Bai Juyi, in which two trees grow so close together that their branches become one, a metaphor for bonds so close they cannot be separated. The lotus that blooms along these vines adds its own meaning: purity, grace, and the quiet persistence of beauty even in difficult conditions. Together, intertwining branch and lotus speak of love that endures, of connections that hold across time. To gift this cup is to offer that sentiment in a form that can be held every day.

The Perfect Gift

Presented in a gift box, the Qing Hua Lotus Vines Round Palm Tea Cup is a distinguished offering for tea connoisseurs, collectors of Chinese ceramics, and those who honour the depth of Chinese cultural heritage. A particularly meaningful gift for weddings, anniversaries, and occasions that celebrate enduring bonds, as well as Chinese New Year, milestone celebrations, or any occasion deserving something truly refined.

Imperial Brocade Gift Box

For a gifting experience as considered as the piece itself, the Imperial Brocade Gift Box is available as a top-up at $32.80. Inspired by the rich textile traditions of the Tang imperial court, the brocade box elevates the presentation with layers of cultural symbolism and tactile luxury, making it the complete expression of refined Chinese artisanship.

Where lotus blooms and intertwining vines meet the ancient art of blue-and-white, a cup to be treasured across generations.