Ou Kiln Handmade Celadon Stem Cup – Traditional Chinese High-Foot Tea & Wine Cup

This one is entirely handmade on a potter's wheel, without the use of any machinery.

This handmade celadon stem cup is based on the traditional Chinese high-foot cup form—an iconic vessel with over 6,000 years of history in Chinese ceramic culture.

Also known as a high-foot tea cup or ceremonial cup, this classic form originated in ancient China and has been used for both tea and wine, as well as ritual and decorative purposes.

As early as the Shang and Zhou periods, mature proto-porcelain stem cups appeared in the Yue cultural region of southern China. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the design evolved under the influence of Central and Western Asian metalware, including Sassanian and Sogdian styles. The form became more refined and elegant, with an open rim, shallow body, and a tall foot featuring decorative elements such as ribbed lines and bamboo-like segments.

By the Yuan Dynasty, the stem cup reached its peak development, widely known as the “horseback cup” or “archer’s cup.” Produced in major celadon kilns such as Ou Kiln and Longquan Kiln, these vessels were used for daily tea and wine drinking and were also exported overseas as part of Chinese ceramic trade.

Today, this celadon stem cup serves as a versatile piece—perfect for gongfu tea, wine tasting, or as a refined decorative object rooted in traditional Chinese aesthetics.