Jingdezhen Thin-Walled Porcelain Teacup — Ruòshēn Zhēncáng

A finely crafted thin-walled porcelain teacup from Jingdezhen, China, traditionally shaped for Chinese gongfu cha.

Produced between the 1990s and the 2000s, this cup was made using a traditional pressed-slab technique (压片工艺) that is no longer practised in the same form today. This technique results in remarkably light and delicate porcelain.

Its exceptionally thin porcelain body gives the cup a delicate, light presence while retaining the characteristic elegance of Jingdezhen porcelain.

The cup is made in the distinctive horseshoe shape, known as Ma Ti Xing (马蹄形), a traditional Chinese form whose history can be traced back to the Ming dynasty, particularly to the Chenghua period (1465–1487). 

Its gently flared rim, sloping walls and slightly recessed flat base create a form that is both elegant and remarkably stable when placed down. This shape combines a graceful, understated appearance with a comfortable grip, reflecting the refined balance between functionality and aesthetics found in traditional Chinese tea ware. The horseshoe cup became associated with refined tea and drinking culture during the Ming and Qing periods. Its compact proportions are particularly well suited to gongfu cha, allowing the drinker to appreciate the aroma, texture and evolution of the tea from infusion to infusion.

This particular cup was made in Jingdezhen, the historic centre of Chinese porcelain production. Its exceptionally thin body was produced by a pressed-slab technique, resulting in remarkably light and delicate porcelain. The cup was fired in an electric kiln, and its base bears the handwritten mark "若深珍藏" (Ruòshēn Zhēncáng), meaning approximately "Treasured by Ruoshen". This handwritten character of the mark is part of the charm of these traditionally produced pieces.

Origin: Jingdezhen, China
Period: 1990-2000
Material: Thin-walled porcelain
Technique: Pressed-slab construction (压片工艺)
Form: Horseshoe-shaped - Ma Ti Xing (马蹄形 - 马蹄杯)
Base mark: Handwritten "若深珍藏" (Ruòshēn Zhēncáng)
Firing: Electric kiln
Capacity: ± 20 ml (useful volume) | ± 30 ml (full capacity, to the rim)
Height: ± 4.1 cm
Diameter: ± 5.2 cm
Weight : ± 15-16 grams

Please note: each piece was produced by hand and may therefore display slight variations. The piece you receive may consequently differ subtly from the one shown in the photograph. These minor variations are an inherent part of its artisanal character and uniqueness.