Description
100% Hand-Painted Blue and White Porcelain Teacup: Ba Fang Ice Plum Cup
This exceptional Ba Fang Cup (Octagonal Cup) showcases a rare and striking technique in Jingdezhen porcelain. Hand-thrown, 100% hand-painted, and fired in a traditional wood-fired kiln, it features a deep underglaze blue ground with plum blossoms created entirely through reserved white space—a technique known as “ice plum.”
A Reversed Technique: White Blossoms from Negative Space
Unlike the common approach of painting blue motifs on a white body, this cup reverses the process. The entire surface is first filled with thick, saturated underglaze blue—so deep it approaches black. The plum blossoms and branches are then left unpainted, revealing the natural white of the porcelain beneath. This reserved-white technique gives the blossoms an exceptional brightness against the dark ground. The plum tree wraps continuously across all eight faceted sides: thick branches extend horizontally, fine twigs fork outward, and white strokes define the bark texture. Each five-petaled blossom features delicate white radiating lines at its center, with clusters of buds scattered along the twigs. Buds outnumber open blooms, capturing the tree at the cusp of flowering.
Wood-Fired Craftsmanship
Fired in a traditional wood-fired kiln, this cup carries the subtle warmth and depth that only wood-firing can produce. The underglaze blue is permanently fused at high temperatures, ensuring the decoration is safe for daily use and will never fade.
Form and Interior Simplicity
The octagonal form is defined by eight distinct ridges and flat planes, with a flared rim, a gently rounded belly, and a small recessed foot. The interior is largely left white, with only a single blue ring at the bottom containing a short, delicate plum branch. The eight inner facets remain completely plain, offering a quiet counterpoint to the richly decorated exterior.
Dimensions & Capacity
- Diameter: 3.15 inches (8 cm)
- Height: 2.17 inches (5.5 cm)
- Full Capacity: 3.7 fl oz (110 ml)
- Ideal Brewing Capacity: 2.0 – 2.7 fl oz (60–80 ml)
Unique Collectability
- 100% Hand-Painted: Entirely hand-painted, not transfer-printed, ensuring every stroke is unique.
- Four-Character Mark: A traditional square mark in underglaze blue is inscribed vertically in two lines on the base, a signature of its Jingdezhen origin.
- One-of-a-Kind: This specific piece is truly unique. Only one available.
Whether you are a seasoned collector of Chinese ceramics or a daily tea drinker seeking a special piece, this one-of-a-kind wood-fired blue and white porcelain teacup brings the rich heritage of Jingdezhen to your tea table.
