Qing Yi Tea Set

Qing Yi Tea Set

Qing Yi Tea set is an innovative cultural fusion design that masterfully integrates traditional Chinese elements with contemporary aesthetics, created by designer Cong Ma. This sophisticated tea service, which earned recognition with an Iron A' Design Award in the Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design category, draws its inspiration from the acclaimed novel Qing Yi (The Moon Opera) by Chinese writer Bi Feiyu. The design's most distinctive feature is its groundbreaking handle design, which represents the traditional Peking opera gesture of sleeve swinging, potentially featuring the longest flying handle in the thousand-year history of Zisha craftsmanship. Crafted using the prestigious Yixing Zisha clay and fired at 1200 degrees Celsius, the set demonstrates exceptional heat retention and natural antiseptic properties, capable of maintaining tea freshness for several days. The teapot, measuring 162mm in width, 110mm in depth, and 128mm in height, incorporates thoughtful design elements including a knob inspired by Peking opera eye makeup and a water drop-shaped body. The accompanying cups, sized at 66mm in width and 30mm in height, feature bases reminiscent of traditional Chinese garden window carvings and sides that emulate flowing water, creating a harmonious blend of theatrical artistry and functional design. The creation process, spanning from October 2017 to January 2018 in Nanjing, required extensive experimentation and refinement of firing techniques to achieve the challenging handle design, representing a significant advancement in traditional Zisha craftsmanship while serving as a bridge between literary arts, theatrical tradition, and contemporary design sensibilities.

Chinese tea culture, Peking opera elements, Zisha craftsmanship, contemporary tableware design, cultural heritage preservation, artistic innovation

— Adam Dawson