Antique-Style Hand-Painted Blue & White Teacup – Butterfly Motif

Originating from Jingdezhen, this petite teacup features a classic, elegantly rounded silhouette. Breaking away from typical white-bodied porcelain, this piece is defined by its expansive, deep indigo background, presenting a calm, deeply restrained, and dark-toned aesthetic. It offers a highly functional and focused tea-tasting experience while serving as a visually striking miniature cultural archive.

Motif & Technique: Butterfly and Fenshui (Cobalt Wash) 
A closer look at the cup reveals a mesmerizing contrast between the ethereal "Butterfly" (胡蝶) motif and the dark void surrounding it. In classical culture, the butterfly is a revered symbol of freedom, romance, and vitality, as well as longevity (since the character for butterfly, is homophonous with the word for an eighty-year-old).
Every detail is meticulously hand-painted stroke by stroke, showcasing the mastery of the traditional Fenshui (分水 / Cobalt Wash) technique. Rather than simply outlining the subject on white clay, the artisan employs a highly demanding reverse-composition method. Using a specialized brush loaded with pigment-infused water, they guide pools of cobalt across the highly absorbent unfired clay. This creates a seamless, gradient-rich, and deep blue background devoid of harsh brushstrokes. This dark, fluid expanse beautifully isolates the delicate butterflies in negative space. The technique requires immense precision, resulting in an unrepeatable, watercolor-like depth that breathes life into the porcelain.

Material & Craft Specifications
Origin: Jingdezhen, China
Shaping Technique: Fully hand-thrown and hand-trimmed on the potter's wheel
Clay Body: Premium raw ore antique-style clay (a traditional blend of porcelain stone and kaolin)
Pigment: Raw ore antique-style cobalt blue pigment
Decoration: Fully hand-painted motifs featuring traditional Fenshui cobalt wash
Glaze: Raw ore transparent glaze

Specifications
Diameter: 6.0 cm
Height: 3.6 cm
Capacity: 45 ml