Goldfish Listen Water Gaiwan

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Product Overview

Goldfish Listen Water Gaiwan is a luminous and elegant piece crafted from ice jade porcelain, known for its smooth, jade-like texture and gentle translucence. Shaped in the traditional San Cai (three-piece) style, the gaiwan features soft, flowing curves that fit comfortably in the hand. The body is adorned with a hand-painted overglaze (you-shang-cai) depiction of goldfish gliding through water. Their vivid forms seem to ripple with movement, as if listening intently to the gentle sound of tea pouring into the bowl. The vessel’s pristine white body, slightly translucent under light, reveals subtle glimpses of the swimming fish, bringing a touch of vitality to its serene elegance. It is a tea vessel where Eastern aesthetics and tea philosophy are gracefully interwoven.

Artistic Appreciation

A single goldfish glides gracefully across the surface of the gaiwan, its flowing tail delicately lifted as if stirred by invisible ripples. Painted in fine overglaze strokes, the fish appears vivid yet serene, with gentle lines and soft, elegant hues that evoke the essence of water. Set against the milky-white ice jade porcelain, its form seems to shimmer between light and shadow — sometimes visible, sometimes hidden — like a living presence beneath the surface. The composition balances precision and fluidity, allowing space and stillness to speak. It is an image of quiet motion, where form and feeling dissolve into poetic calm.

Craftsmanship Analysis

This gaiwan is made from carefully selected kaolin clay and fired at temperatures exceeding 1300°C, resulting in a dense, refined body with the characteristic clarity and warmth of ice jade porcelain. The surface is finished with a high-gloss glaze, creating a mirror-like sheen — smooth to the touch and radiant under light, as if covered in flowing water. The goldfish motif is meticulously painted by hand using the overglaze technique, which allows for vivid, layered coloration and expressive detailing. After painting, the piece is fired again at a lower temperature, fusing the artwork seamlessly with the glazed surface. The result is a durable, food-safe decoration that preserves the delicate brushwork for years to come. With its balanced form and dynamic yet elegant composition, this gaiwan is a superb blend of artistic craftsmanship and practical design.

Creative Inspiration

The design was conceived by Zhou Qi, a renowned ceramic artist who lives in quiet retreat among the southern mountains. Each day, he brews tea and watches the fish in his pond, drawing inspiration from their graceful motions. One morning, as he sat by his window preparing tea, he noticed a goldfish floating still, seemingly listening to the sound of water gently trickling into the gaiwan. In that fleeting moment, he understood the poetic principle of “stillness within movement, and liveliness within stillness.” He was moved to capture this feeling in porcelain.
After countless trials, he succeeded using ice jade porcelain as the foundation, painting fish with overglaze, and imbuing the piece with the spirit of water. On the day the gaiwan was completed, tea fell into its bowl, the water murmured softly, and the painted fish seemed to shimmer — like a dream recalled.

Value & Versatility

Goldfish Listen Water Gaiwan is ideal for everyday tea drinking, especially suited to brewing green, white, and floral teas that benefit from the vessel’s clarity and refined shape. The translucent body showcases the color of the tea liquor, while the hand-painted fish lend an air of playful elegance to any tea setting. As a gift, it symbolizes tranquility, happiness, and harmony — carrying with it wishes of long-lasting fortune and peace. Whether used in daily rituals or displayed as a piece of art, this gaiwan invites you to slow down, observe water ripple and fish swim, sip your tea, and listen to the quiet within.