Jingdezhen Antique-Style Hand-Painted Wood-Fired Blue & White Ruyi Cup – Full-Coverage Bats & Gourds Motif

Originating from Jingdezhen, this teacup features the classic "Ruyi" (如意) silhouette. With a gently flared rim and a fully rounded belly, its graceful, undulating curve is reminiscent of the auspicious Ruyi scepter. This shape not only offers a visually dignified and soft elegance but also rests naturally against the lips. Its delicate 6.3 cm diameter excels at concentrating the aroma of the tea. Completely enveloped in intricate indigo patterns, this piece presents a full-coverage aesthetic, serving as both a highly functional brewing companion and a collectible miniature archive showcasing profound traditional blessings.

Motif & Technique: Full-Coverage Bats, Gourds, and Double Blue Lines 
A closer look reveals an elaborate, full-coverage (满绘 - Manhui) motif classically known as "Fulu Wandai" (Bats, Gourds, and Endless Vines). In traditional Chinese iconography, the bat (蝙蝠) is a homophone for fortune (福), and the gourd (葫芦) sounds like prosperity and wealth (福禄). The intertwining vines connecting them represent endless generations and eternal vitality.
By employing a highly time-consuming painting technique, the artisan allows these auspicious totems to completely envelop the cup's exterior. The rhythmic flow of the vines perfectly balances the organic shapes of the gourds. Furthermore, the rim and the foot of the cup are bordered by classic double blue lines (双弦纹). These precise, parallel bands provide a structured, architectural frame to the elaborate and lively botanical composition, defining a strict aesthetic boundary.

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 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 full-surface coverage)
Glaze: Raw ore transparent glaze

Specifications
Diameter: 6.3 cm
Height: 4.7 cm
Capacity: 70 ml