Tenmoku Leaf Artisan Tea Bowl

When you hold a piece of Jian Zhan (Tenmoku) pottery, you are holding history. This specific piece, the Tenmoku Leaf Tea Bowl, crafted by the revered ceramic artist Hong Jianpeng, is not merely a vessel; it is a meditation on transience.

During the Song Dynasty, these black-glazed bowls were prized by emperors and Zen monks alike. Our artist, Master Hong, carries on this ancient lineage, but with a deeply personal signature: the integrated leaf.

Here’s the story: A real leaf—often a silkworm mulberry leaf—is carefully placed inside the bowl before the final firing. During the intense heat of the kiln, the organic material of the leaf burns away, leaving behind a carbon skeleton that is flawlessly fused into the deep amber glaze. You can clearly see the veins, the slight imperfections, and the unique, unrepeatable shape of that exact leaf, preserved in time.

This aesthetic speaks directly to the philosophy of Wabi-sabi: finding profound beauty in imperfection and impermanence. The size is perfect for savoring both the clear, intense liquor of a high-end Oolong (Gongfu style) or the frothy, green richness of Matcha.

This bowl from our curated artist collection at BestCeramics.cn is an investment in ritual. It’s a moment of stillness—a reminder that beauty, like that leaf, is fleeting, and that makes the present moment even more precious.