CD013 - Dai teacup 50 ml

Product detailed description

Overview
This beautiful and handmade tea cup from Dai clay (Daitao 傣陶) originates from a small pottery workshop in Jinghong city (景洪市). While the history of Yunnan clays dates back more than 4,000 years, the specific tradition of this type of pottery can be traced back to the period of the Dai Kingdom (1180–1993*), during which various vessels were produced for both religious and practical purposes (particularly for storing food and liquids). Until the late 1990s, Dai pottery was virtually unknown, except for the roughly crafted Dai jars used for roasting tea (Kaochaguan 烤茶罐) found in various areas of China’s Yunnan province. A turning point came in 2006 when Dai pottery was added on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Today, numerous Dai pottery workshops produce a wide range of ceramic products, including various gaiwans and teapots featuring Dai natural and Buddhist motifs.

This pottery has been generously provided to us by the married couple Yam Zhuangxie and Zhong Kui, whom we have known since 2013. We recently met with these potters during our research trip to Xishuangbanna at the beginning of 2025, where we conducted several interviews concerning the history, technology, and production methods of Dai pottery in the Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna (西双版纳). The Dai people believe that every object has a soul, a belief reflected in the uniqueness of each piece of this engraved pottery. The colourful designs are applied to the outer surface of the teaware before firing using natural mineral powders from the region (Kuangshi Fen 矿石粉), which are non-toxic and suitable for tea preparation. This unglazed pottery is ideal for brewing all types of tea. Like other unglazed teaware, regular use with a specific type of tea can significantly enhance the flavour experience of drinking tea.