Jingdezhen Antique-Style Hand-Painted Wood-Fired Blue & White Reticulated Teapot Tray – Lotus Bouquet & Floral Scroll Motif

Originating from Jingdezhen, this teapot tray (壶承 - Hucheng / Reticulated Plate) features a generous 17.5 cm diameter with an open, gently rising profile. Designed primarily as a dedicated water-bearing platform for fine teapots, it also functions as an elegant display piece for scholar-studio objects. The rim features a classic foliate edge (花口) paired with intricate pierced openwork (透雕), which visually lightens the silhouette and breaks the heavy boundary of conventional solid plates. Presenting a calm, restrained presence with deep, jade-like cobalt tones, it serves as a collectible miniature archive embodying structural rigor and literati taste.

Motif & Craftsmanship: The Bound Lotus Bouquet ("Yi Ba Lian") and Reticulated Openwork 
A closer examination of the central medallion reveals one of the most celebrated motifs in classical Chinese porcelain history: the "Bound Lotus" (一把莲 / 一束莲 - Yi Ba Lian), popularized during the early Ming Dynasty. The composition depicts lotus blossoms, lotus leaves, seedpods, and aquatic foliage bound together by a flowing ribbon. In traditional iconography, the lotus ("lian") is a homophone for incorruptibility ("lian"), transforming this floral bouquet into an emblem of moral integrity, purity, and nobility.
Framing the central bouquet, both the inner perimeter and the outer wall are encircled by classic interlocking lotus scrolls (缠枝莲), symbolizing endless vitality. The defining technical feat of this piece is the Reticulated Openwork (透雕 - toudiao) along the rim. While the clay is leather-hard, the artisan meticulously cuts each delicate perforation entirely by hand. Because pierced structures are extremely susceptible to warping or collapse in the intense heat of the kiln, successful execution requires exceptional mastery. This open lattice creates a captivating interplay between negative space and solid form, lending visual lightness to the deep cobalt blue geometry.

Craftsmanship: Traditional Pine Wood-Fired Kiln (Chai Yao) 
This piece is fired using the most traditional wood-firing kilns (柴窑) in Jingdezhen. The unfired vessel is placed securely inside a saggar (a protective ceramic box) and fired using pure pine wood. Kiln masters rely on decades of experience, manually adding wood to control the temperature, which eventually peaks at 1300°C.
Unlike the predictable and uniform heating curves of modern gas kilns, a wood-fired kiln produces a natural, rhythmic temperature variation. During the intense heat, the volatilized oils from the pine wood interact with the porcelain glaze. This distinct reaction grants the porcelain an exceptionally antiqued, deeply lustrous, and "oily" finish. It is this warm, jade-like texture that makes authentic wood-fired pieces irreplaceable.

Material & Craft Specifications
Origin: Jingdezhen, China
Shaping Technique: Fully hand-thrown, hand-trimmed, and manually pierced on leather-hard clay
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 and manual pierced openwork
Glaze: Raw ore transparent glaze

Specifications
Diameter: 17.5 cm
Height: 3.3 cm