Simplicity without monotony, the Tea ware, complemented by dried flowers, bamboo baskets, and mats, evokes a Japanese sense of Zen aesthetics. It turns out that the details of life can be so beautiful! Recently, many ceramic artists in Dehua have been drawing inspiration from aesthetic principles in Taiwan and Japan. Using their skills in glaze color blending, they create simple yet distinctive works of art. These are both artistic expressions of urban slow living and practical items, becoming popular home decor items on the market.
Cultural and Creative Design Enhances Ceramic Quality
The tactile sensation of cotton and linen, a water-resistant fabric dyed with natural plant dyes from Taiwan draped over a table, paired with a set of square, simply designed yellow tea ware (Fig. 1), and a finely crafted bamboo mat, the rustic and natural aesthetics created by Dehua's ceramic artists seem to come naturally. “The natural feel of cotton and linen or bamboo mats creates an atmosphere of tranquility and serenity in the Zen space.”
Square and minimalist yellow tea ware (Fig. 1)
In the Zhengyu Art Ceramic Exhibition Hall in Dehua, reporters see sets of tea ware embodying Zen aesthetics carefully arranged on display tables. Seeing this scene, it is hard for anyone to recall the previous habit of haphazard Tea drinking. “Zen allows you to experience freshness and peace while also feeling the weight of time, calming the restless mind.” The hall's manager, Liang Wanping, explains that the tea ware industry has moved away from the fast-consumption style of tea drinking. There is now a trend towards Zen aesthetics. Currently, mainstream tea ware is being enriched with elevated aesthetic culture to create a sense of urban slow living.
Vivid glazed tea ware, emitting a buttery smoothness and clarity (Fig. 2)
Upon closer inspection of this yellow-glazed product (Fig. 2), which radiates a buttery smoothness and clarity, it feels warm and smooth like jade to the touch. It gives a sense of the revered Japanese “Wabi-sabi” aesthetic, especially when paired with a vase with a slender neck. This subtly creates a natural comfort for the tea drinker.
Elegant Black Tea ware (Fig. 3)
Another set of elegant black tea ware (Fig. 3) is also quite interesting. The elongated handle departs from the traditional single-style manufacturing method of old tea ware. Behind the square bamboo tray, there is a message engraved by the ceramic artist as a gift to tea friends. Unlike the usual “congratulations and wealth” inscriptions on tea ware, this piece bears the artist's sentiments: “Taste the flavor of tea, understand the way of tea.”
Long black bamboo bag, paired with a minimalist vase (Fig. 4)
A long black bamboo bag, paired with a minimalist vase, adds a unique charm to this set of tea ware (Fig. 4). When combined with traditionally shaped teapots and cups, it creates a relaxed and comfortable home atmosphere. Unlike the past, the new tea lifestyle advocated by ceramic artists involves not only changing the way tea is consumed but also appreciating the aesthetics of each utensil. This starts from simplifying the act of tea drinking to make life as slow as possible.
So, how does one create a slow life? According to Liang Wanping, a complete set of tea ware requires many accessories, including a fair cup, Teapot, tray, spoon, bamboo mat, tongs, cloth, strainer, and high-quality waterproof linen tea mat. The prices vary widely, ranging from several hundred to thousands of yuan.
Creative Accessories Become Hot Items
You might think that the aforementioned tea ware is already expensive, but the intricately crafted, simple, and stylish tea ware accessories do not come cheap either.
A bottle resembling a gourd tea lid, due to its complex and diverse glaze colors and its innovative design, is not only suitable for tea settings but also makes for a good decorative item at home. Another bottle, tall and copper-colored, is also quite distinctive in appearance.
Creative Accessories Become Hot Items
Furthermore, even simple hand-woven bamboo bags sold in the market are not inexpensive. For instance, these brightly colored bamboo bags (Fig. 5) are usually made by craftsmen with decades of experience, taking more than ten hours to produce. It is said that the bamboo fibers used in the yellow woven bag must undergo processes such as splitting the bamboo, roasting, removing knots, layering, setting the color, smoothing, slicing, and thinning to create threads of consistent thickness and exquisite craftsmanship.
And there are the minimalistic vases that cannot be overlooked. According to Mr. Zeng, the head of YouChao, a cultural and creative brand in Dehua, their newly established brand aims to follow the current trends in the tea ware market. “Especially now, Dehua tea ware is embracing cultural and creative styles. The rough and culturally lacking ways of drinking tea in the past are outdated. By creating a series of simple and Zen aesthetic tea ware or accessories, we offer consumers a new experience,” he says.