The remarkable detail isn't only the wood-fired color. It's how thin these cups are. After years of encountering wood-fired teaware that felt thick and heavy, Leo found these unusually refined, lightweight Jingdezhen gongfu cups with slender walls and delicately flared rims. In this small collection, soft cream and blush tones sit beside dramatic charcoal, bronze and golden-amber kiln markings. Each cup is an individual piece, not part of a set.
Why Thin Wood-Fired Teacups Are So Difficult to Make
Making a thin teacup takes precision even before firing. The walls need to be formed evenly and dried with care. Small differences in thickness and drying stress can distort a delicate rim or cause cracks.
Wood firing adds more uncertainty. Heat, airflow, flame and ash vary through the kiln, and the clay must withstand heating, shrinkage and cooling. Thin sections offer less margin for error: cups can warp, crack or break, while others are rejected because the shape has changed. The challenge is bringing a fine, well-balanced cup safely through that process while retaining the character of the wood-fired surface.
Many wood-fired pieces are made with more substantial walls. What makes these Jingdezhen cups special is their combination of thinness, a light feel in the hand, and the natural variation of kiln firing. Exact production loss rates for these pieces have not been provided, so we do not claim a specific percentage of breakage.
Choose Your Cup
Rose Current · 50 mL: Ivory and cream glaze carries soft blush-pink bands and sweeping earthy-brown markings. A pale interior and fine, flared rim give this small cup an understated appearance. Approximately 2.65 inches in diameter × 1.5 inches tall.
Bronze Eclipse · 87 mL: Smoky charcoal, bronze and cream-toned areas meet on the exterior, while the interior reveals a rich golden-amber glaze with natural speckling. The largest cup in this collection. Approximately 2.8 inches in diameter × 1.75 inches tall.
Apricot Cloud · 55 mL: Soft apricot, pale peach and warm ivory flow across the exterior, with a light cream interior, subtle warm-toned edge and delicate surface texture. Approximately 2.75 inches in diameter × 1.5 inches tall.
Details
Origin: Jingdezhen, China
Firing: Wood-fired
Material: Ceramic (specific clay body not confirmed)
Style: Thin-walled, flared-rim gongfu teacup
Capacity: 50–87 mL depending on the design
Included: One teacup in your selected variant
All dimensions are approximate. The three styles are sold individually, not as a three-cup set. Each photographed cup has its own wood-fired patterns.
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Leo's Story: My Discovery in Jingdezhen
During my travels, most of the wood-fired teaware I came across was heavy and thick. I love wood firing, but I have always wanted the character of the kiln in a cup that feels light and delicate in the hand.
When I visited Jingdezhen in 2025, I found the kind of cup I had been looking for. What amazed me was just how thin the walls were. A thin cup is much harder to bring through a wood firing without damage or losing its shape. So far, Jingdezhen is the only place in my own sourcing journeys where I have found wood-fired cups with this degree of finesse.
This group shows why I enjoy choosing pieces one at a time. Rose Current has the softer blush and cream colors, Bronze Eclipse reveals a deep golden interior against smoky markings, and Apricot Cloud has a warm, almost pastel finish. Every angle shows a little something different.
Leo Lukidi
Founder, Tea & Whisk
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Care
Hand-wash gently with warm water, dry fully, and avoid dishwashers, microwaves or sudden changes in temperature.
