[清本源 x Gohobi Gallery] Thin-Body Blue & White Gaiwan with Inner-Impressed Ink Dragon Design – Ingot Lid Form (120ml)

This thin-body gaiwan is a powerful expression of movement, transformation, and controlled force, where ink-like brushwork, blue-and-white porcelain, and kiln-fired chance converge into a single living form.

The ink dragon is the soul of the design. Drawn with dense, calligraphic strokes, its structure is defined with strength and precision. The scales are layered tightly like armour, the whiskers flow freely like cascading water, and the raised head carries a sense of upward momentum, as if breaking through air and cloud. The dragon is neither decorative nor static; it feels charged with motion, its presence coiled and ready within the porcelain.

Surrounding the dragon, blue-and-white becomes the landscape. Soft cobalt washes form rolling waves, applied with the freedom of ink-wash painting. At the crests, natural cobalt “burst speckling” appears where the pigment reacts to the glaze, resembling shattered jade thrown upward by crashing surf. These organic effects are not imposed, but revealed—born from the material itself responding to heat and time.

The inner-impressing technique adds a further dimension. Before painting, the dragon form is moulded into the porcelain body, giving it a sculptural presence beneath the surface. The hand-painted ink tones then animate this relief, allowing the dragon to shift between solidity and movement. The dragon on the bowl and the responding dragon on the lid mirror one another across space, as if circling the tea, inhaling and exhaling clouds and mist in a suspended exchange.

During firing, the blue of the cobalt and the deep brown-black of the ink dragon undergo transformation at temperatures exceeding 1300°C. Through kiln change, the darker pigment develops a subtle metallic sheen, lending the dragon scales a gilt-like glow, while the surrounding waves take on a pearlescent depth. Each firing introduces an element of unpredictability, making every scale and every wave a unique gift of flame and chance—a quiet collaboration between human intention and natural force.

The ingot-shaped lid adds a final layer of symbolism and balance. Its rounded geometry sits comfortably in the hand while echoing traditional forms associated with completeness and abundance. Combined with the thin porcelain body, the gaiwan feels light yet assured, responsive to both touch and heat.

Diameter: 9 cm
Height: 6.7 cm
Capacity: 120 ml

The listed price is for one gaiwan. Each piece is individually handcrafted, and natural variations in cobalt tone, kiln effects, and surface lustre 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.

A gaiwan where ink becomes force and porcelain becomes movement—holding within it the breath of the kiln, the spirit of the dragon, and the ever-changing rhythm of tea.