Qing Hua Lotus Vines Sancai Gaiwan Tea Cup

In the tradition of Jingdezhen's imperial kilns, where the sancai gaiwan was the vessel of choice for emperors and scholars who understood that the finest tea deserves the finest vessel, the Qing Hua Lotus Vines Sancai Gaiwan Tea Cup renders the classical lianli zhi (连理枝) motif in deep cobalt blue across lid, bowl, and saucer. Lotus blooms and scrolling vines wind continuously around each piece in an unbroken, interlocking embrace, framed 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 gaiwan as complete in philosophy as it is in beauty.

Key Features

• Material: High-fired porcelain with hand-painted qinghua (blue-and-white) underglaze
• Form: Mati Sancai Gaiwan (马蹄三才盖碗) — Horse-hoof Three Talents Covered Bowl
• Diameter: 12.7cm · Height: 10.2cm · Capacity: 150ml
• Includes: Lidded bowl with saucer and cover
• Ideal for: Gongfu tea ceremony, daily tea ritual, gifting and collecting

Artisan Craftsmanship

Each gaiwan 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 continuous line that loops and branches with unhurried confidence across all three pieces. The silver-traced outlines that define each motif lend the pattern a subtle luminosity, a refinement that reveals itself more fully the longer the gaiwan is held in the hand. The horse-hoof base of the bowl gives the sancai its distinctive silhouette — slightly tapered at the foot, flaring outward with a clean, authoritative line — and makes it one of the more elegant gaiwan forms in the Chinese tea tradition.

Cultural Symbolism

The sancai gaiwan is the most philosophically complete vessel in the Chinese tea tradition. Its three parts — lid, bowl, and saucer — represent heaven, earth, and humanity, the drinker held at the centre of the natural order with every sip. Across its surface, the lianli zhi speaks one of Chinese culture's most enduring sentiments: the intertwining branch, rooted in the Tang Dynasty poetry of Bai Juyi, is a symbol of bonds so close they become inseparable. The lotus that blooms along its vines adds purity and grace, the quiet persistence of beauty in any condition. To use this gaiwan is to brew within a vessel of meaning, and to gift it is to offer that meaning to someone whose bond with you is meant to last.

The Perfect Gift

Presented in a gift box, the Qing Hua Lotus Vines Sancai Gaiwan 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 gaiwan to be treasured across generations.