TP004 - Tiny

Product detailed description

Overview
Tea pets or tea spirits (chachong 茶宠) represent various types of small figurines that accompany you during your tea time. These charming figurines are often poured with leftover tea to cultivate the bond between the tea drinker and the pet. Apart from the decorative aspect, the tea pets also hold significant cultural and symbolic meanings. The tea pet was hand-made by Qingwu Liu, a local artist from Jiangsu Province, where Shanshan's sister lives. The tea pet was made upon our demand to emphasize the strong cultural affinity of wild elephants with Xishuangbanna.

History
The tradition of using tea pets dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a golden era in China. These figurines have since become an integral part of tea ceremonies, representing a blend of artistry, tradition, and personal expression. Traditionally, the tea pets were made from various clays similar to those, which are used for making the teaware. While the tea pets often reflect the owner's personality and interests, many of the tea spirits represent various mythical creatures to bring good fortune, happiness, and prosperity to their owners.

Symbolism
The presented elephant teapet is often interpreted as a symbol of strength, stability, wisdom, memory and harmony. In China, wild elephants can only be found in Yunnan Province, particularly in the Xishuangbanna Autonomous Prefecture, where Shanshan comes from. While the local people are afraid of elephants due to their bigger size, the occasional encounters with them are usually peaceful. Similarly, like elephants who like to sleep in between tea trees and find joy along the rivers, the presented tiny elephant is especially suitable for those who like water and pay attention to various water aspects during the tea ceremony.