Periwinkle 02

This tea cup is part of a small collection of ceramics from Wei’s most recent soda-firing at the Shadbolt Centre of Arts in Burnaby, BC.

Celadon is an ancient glaze with a history of more than a thousand years. For centuries, it was highly prized in the Chinese Imperial Court for its resemblance to jade. We named this celadon glaze formulated by Janet Mansfield, Periwinkle, for its resemblance to periwinkle seashells.

Wei throws each cup carefully by hand. The pieces are air-dried for 3 days until they are bone dry before trimming and then bisque firing. The cup goes into the kiln without any glaze on the outside and emerges with its own unique color, texture and sheen from the atmosphere inside the kiln. Each piece is fired in the soda kiln for 2 days, where temperatures reach up to 1300°C.

The cup is strikingly beautiful with rich orange tones. It is marvellously semi-translucent—a result of Wei's knowledge of clay bodies and her mastery of the technique. The celadon glaze on the inside has a satin sheen and the outside feels slightly textured in the hands.

Each tea cup is one-of-a-kind.