[清本源 x Gohobi Gallery] Thin-Body Inner-Imprinted and Carved Sea Wave Cup – Qing Ben Yuan Series (60ml)

This thin-body sweet white porcelain reclining-foot cup is a meditation on clarity, responsiveness, and the philosophy of “the mind as a mirror,” where craftsmanship unfolds through awareness rather than force.

At the moment when mould and clay meet, the pattern emerges naturally through inner-imprinting. As pressure is applied, the clay responds instinctively, allowing motifs to surface without hesitation or distortion—like a mirror reflecting what appears before it, without intention or attachment. Once released from the mould, the porcelain body retains the pattern in its original state, leaving no trace of effort behind. This process echoes the ancient wisdom that the highest state of mind neither resists nor retains, responding fully and letting go completely. In that brief instant of pressing the mould, the artisan sets aside all distraction, focusing only on allowing the design to appear truthfully, embodying a state of calm attentiveness.

When the thin porcelain body—light as cicada wings—meets light, it reveals a moonlit translucence that expresses this philosophy in material form. The precision of inner-imprinted patterns appears like reflections within a mirror, while the outer carving brings a sense of movement and vitality, as though images briefly linger on its surface. Within clay and flame, these two techniques merge into a single expression of craft guided by a clear and steady mind.

After the form is set, the exterior carving begins as an act of refinement, akin to gently clearing dust from a mirror. The artisan guides the blade across the paper-thin surface, carving scrolling branches that stretch and unfold with ease, and cloud-like forms that drift with natural rhythm. Each cut requires acute awareness of the clay’s tolerance and the flow of the pattern, maintaining balance without being trapped by fear of error or drawn toward excess. Qing dynasty artisans once taught that carving is an art of subtraction—removing what is unnecessary so the true form may emerge. In this cup, restraint replaces display, allowing the decoration to appear effortless and unified with the body, as if revealed rather than imposed.

The design features five peaches and butterflies rendered through the linglong technique, where light passes through the porcelain to create a quiet dialogue between solidity and emptiness. In Chinese tradition, peaches symbolise longevity and blessing, while butterflies carry the homophonic meaning of repeated fortune. Together, they form a gentle wish for enduring joy, abundance, and ease—expressed not through overt symbolism, but through harmony of form, light, and rhythm.

With its gently reclining foot, the cup rests securely in the palm, offering both stability and intimacy during use. Over time, its details reveal themselves gradually, rewarding stillness and attention rather than immediate spectacle.

Diameter: 6.6 cm
Height: 4.3 cm
Capacity: 80 ml

The listed price is for one cup. Each piece is individually handcrafted using thin-body porcelain techniques, and slight variations in translucency, carving, and imprint are a natural part of the process, making every cup unique. Customers are welcome to request a private video viewing for a closer look. Orders are shipped using reused or recycled packaging wherever possible.

A quietly luminous tea cup—where form, light, and mindfulness converge, reflecting a way of living that is clear, responsive, and gently grounded in the present moment.