[清本源 x Gohobi Gallery] Thin-Body Sweet White Douli Cup with Inner-Imprinted Starry Sky Design (110ml)

This thin-body sweet white porcelain douli cup transforms the act of drinking tea into a quiet dialogue between tradition, imagination, and inner clarity.

An innovative inner-impressing technique extends cloud-like nebula patterns from the cup wall down toward the base, where they gradually converge into a single planetary form. The visual rhythm moves from diffusion to focus, creating a sense of spatial depth rather than surface decoration. These patterns do not sit atop the porcelain, but emerge subtly from within the body itself, allowing the “starry sky” to evolve from a flat motif into a perceptible, immersive scene. When tea is poured, the surface of the liquor seems to carry drifting galaxies, as though the Milky Way were gently circulating within the cup, turning each sip into a moment of quiet cosmic reflection.

At the base of the cup, the planetary form acts as the anchor of this celestial narrative. Encircled by the surrounding nebula patterns, it completes the visual logic of “stars gathering around a core.” Once filled with tea, the warm amber hue of the liquor creates the illusion that the planet is suspended within its own universe, heightening the sense of depth and dimensionality, as if a small celestial body were hidden within reach at the bottom of the cup.

This imagery echoes the philosophy of returning to clarity at one’s core. As the drinker’s gaze naturally settles on the planet at the bottom of the cup, it becomes both a visual focal point and a subtle metaphor for introspection and returning to one’s original state. In this way, the tea vessel moves beyond function, becoming a quiet medium for emotional and spiritual resonance.

The form is based on the classic Song dynasty douli cup, with its flared rim and flowing lines reminiscent of a bamboo hat. This historic silhouette preserves the elegance of ancient ceramic forms while offering a comfortable grip and generous space for tea to open and breathe, allowing the past to be naturally integrated into contemporary tea practice.

Crafted using traditional thin-body techniques, the porcelain is remarkably light and translucent, thin as paper yet resilient and balanced. When held, it feels weightless yet assured; when observed against the light, the body reveals a crystalline whiteness, showcasing the pinnacle of thin-body porcelain craftsmanship.

Diameter: 8.7 cm
Height: 4.2 cm
Capacity: 110 ml

This douli cup is well suited for gongfu tea sessions, allowing aroma, temperature, and flavour to unfold naturally. Placed on the tea table, filled with tea, the starry interior interacts with shifting light and liquid, creating a serene yet poetic atmosphere where traditional elegance meets contemporary imagination.

The listed price is for one cup. Each piece is individually handcrafted, and subtle variations in form, translucency, and inner pattern are part of its unique character. Customers are welcome to request a private video viewing for a closer look. Orders are shipped using reused or recycled packaging wherever possible.

More than a tea cup, this is a vessel where heritage craftsmanship and modern contemplation quietly converge—inviting the drinker to return to stillness, clarity, and the vastness within.