Moon White: Celadon Chicken Heart Cup with Hand-Painted Blue Rings

Handcrafted Jingdezhen Porcelain | Zhi Zhen Tang Studio | 100ml

“A vessel of quiet dignity, where the moonlight gathers in a pool of celadon.”

At ZENTAOEAST, we seek pieces that balance historical reverence with contemporary clarity. The Moon White Chicken Heart Cup is a masterful expression of this balance. Crafted by the renowned Zhi Zhen Tang Studio in Jingdezhen, this cup revitalizes a classic form with a minimalist “Moon White” (Yuè Bái) glaze, offering a tactile experience that is both refined and grounded.

The Silhouette: The Timeless Chicken Heart (Jī Xīn Bēi)

The “Chicken Heart” cup is one of the most celebrated forms in Chinese ceramic history, reaching its peak during the Ming Dynasty.

• The Profile: Characterized by its deep, tapered body and a subtle, heart-like curve at the base, it is designed to sit perfectly in the palm.

• Dignity in Form: This shape is known for its “Duan Zhuang” (端庄)—a sense of solemnity and grace—making it an ideal choice for formal tea ceremonies or contemplative solo sessions.

The Aesthetic: Song-Style Minimalism

While the shape is classic, the decoration follows the Song Dynasty’s “Sublime Subtraction” philosophy.

• Cobalt Blue Rings: The only adornment is a pair of hand-painted underglaze blue double rings (Qīng Huā) at the rim and the foot. These lines serve as a frame, grounding the ethereal glaze and adding a scholarly, disciplined elegance to the piece.

• Moon White Glaze: The celadon glaze is fired to a “Moon White” hue—a pale, cool-toned blue-grey that mimics the soft glow of a full moon. It is thick, smooth, and incredibly soothing to the touch.

The Artisan Detail: Fluidity and Texture

A unique feature of this cup is the hand-applied glaze technique. The high fluidity of the celadon glaze causes it to move slightly during the intense heat of the kiln:

• The Pooling Effect: The glaze naturally flows downward, accumulating slightly near the base.

• Frosted Tactility: This accumulation creates a subtle, matte, or “frosted” texture (磨砂感) at the bottom area. This contrast between the silky-smooth upper body and the textured base provides a sensory reminder of the glaze’s life and movement within the fire.

The Mark: Zhi Zhen Tang (致臻堂)

The base of the cup features the hand-inscribed three-character mark “致臻堂” (Zhi Zhen Tang). Known for their meticulous attention to detail and “Quest for Perfection,” this studio is a favorite among collectors who demand authentic Jingdezhen craftsmanship.

Curator’s Verdict

“There is a profound sense of ‘quiet’ in this cup. The Moon White Chicken Heart Cup doesn’t shout; it invites you to look closer. I particularly love the ‘pooling’ of the glaze at the base—it’s a mark of honest, handmade work. For those who appreciate Song-style minimalism but want the structural dignity of a Ming classic, this 100ml vessel is a flawless choice.”

—Richard Zhang, Founding Curator