The difficult part is not just wood firing these cups. It is making them this thin. Many wood-fired cups have thick, weighty walls. These Jingdezhen teacups are remarkably slender and light, with finely shaped, flared rims and the unpredictable smoky blue-gray, ivory, amber and earthy markings of a wood kiln. You get the expressive surface of wood-fired pottery in a small, refined gongfu cup rather than a heavy bowl.
Why Thin Wood-Fired Teacups Are So Hard to Make
First, the cup has to be formed and dried without damage. Thin walls leave very little margin for error. If the clay dries unevenly, or one part is thicker than another, the delicate rim can distort and fine cracks can develop before the cup ever reaches the final firing.
Then it has to survive a wood kiln. Unlike a tightly controlled electric firing, heat, flame, airflow and ash vary across a wood kiln. As the clay heats, shrinks and cools, an unevenly stressed cup may warp, crack or break. Some pieces cannot be sold because they do not survive the process or do not retain their intended shape. Achieving an even, thin wall and a well-balanced rim through this firing demands careful craftsmanship.
Why that matters: the same wood firing that gives each cup its natural markings also makes a fine, lightweight form challenging to produce. The achievement is not only an attractive glaze, but a slender cup that emerges intact with its shape and balance preserved.
Choose Your Cup
Slate Mist · 70 mL: A blue-gray exterior with smoky charcoal markings and warm, earthy accents. Inside, pale ivory glaze and delicate crackle-like lines contrast with darker patterns around the rim. Approximately 3 inches in diameter × 1.75 inches tall.
Amber Dune · 58 mL: Warm amber, peach, and cream tones with naturally irregular brown markings across the outside. The interior has soft golden shades and subtle speckling. Approximately 2.75 inches in diameter × 1.5 inches tall.
Emberstone · 70 mL: A mix of warm brown, creamy ivory, and deep charcoal, with distinctive speckled areas and an amber-toned interior. The finish changes noticeably from one side to the other. Approximately 2.8 inches in diameter × 1.75 inches tall.
Details
Origin: Jingdezhen, China
Capacity: 58–70 mL, depending on selected cup
Firing: Wood-fired
Style: Thin-walled gongfu teacup with a softly flared rim
Quantity: One individual teacup in the selected design
The measurements are approximate. The photographs show the individual designs and their distinctive surface patterns.
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Leo's Story: My Discovery in Jingdezhen
During my travels, I have handled a lot of wood-fired teaware. Most of the pieces I found were thick and heavy. I loved the colors and markings from the kiln, but I kept looking for that same character in a cup with thinner walls and a lighter feel.
On my 2025 trip to Jingdezhen, I finally found cups that had both. I was struck by how thin they were. Making a delicate cup and getting it through a wood firing without losing its shape is not easy. Of all the wood-fired teaware I have found on my journeys, Jingdezhen is the only place where I have personally come across this combination of thinness and wood-fired character.
I chose these pieces for their different personalities. One has cool blue-gray tones, another has a warm amber finish, and the third brings together charcoal, cream and earthy brown. Each cup looks different depending on which side you turn toward you.
Leo Lukidi
Founder, Tea & Whisk
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Care Instructions
Hand-wash gently with warm water and let dry completely. Avoid dishwashers, microwaves, and sudden temperature changes.
