"The 'Wanyu Cup, a Top-Tier Piece from Tsai Hsiao-fang's Early Works and a Custom-Made for Zhou Yu at Zifang Tea House,' is a unique, rare piece of exceptional value in the history of Taiwanese tea art, possessing immense literary and historical significance. This work not only showcases the superb craftsmanship of Tsai Hsiao-fang's early kilns but also serves as a legendary testament to the cross-disciplinary collaboration between two master figures during the nascent period of refined literati tea ceremony and aesthetics in Taiwan during the 1980s. In 1981, when Zifang Tea House was founded, its founder, Master Zhou Yu, was dedicated to promoting the "righteous, tranquil, pure, and rounded" Taiwanese literati tea ceremony. To embody his ideal literati aesthetics during these gatherings, he commissioned a batch of exclusive teaware from Master Tsai Hsiao-fang, who had recently established her renowned kiln, in the 1980s. These teaware pieces served as treasures for entertaining literati and scholars at Zifang Tea House.
Warm and Lustrous Glaze: The ivory-white glaze used in this Wanyu Cup represents the finest white porcelain work from Tsai Hsiao-fang's early period. With a subtle ivory-yellow hue and a soft, warm, mutton-fat-like finish, this glaze has a smooth, silky texture and is considered the most perfect for reproducing the color of Taiwanese oolong tea.
Cup Design: This early custom-made piece features a plain, rounded, full, and rustic design. Its exquisite size and delicate feel make it a perfect fit for the hand, exuding a refined, scholarly elegance. The incised signature is a unique mark left by the master craftsman while the glaze is still wet. He uses a knife as a brush to manually carve the mark on the bottom of the cup or in a specific, hidden location, signifying that it was commissioned by Zifanglu or Zhou Yu. This incised mark, hidden under the glaze, is only faintly visible at specific angles when held up to the light, demonstrating an extremely subtle and restrained technique.