The Great Zodiac” Hand-Carved White Porcelain Tea Cup | Yan Wenlu

A Dialogue with a Master. A Legacy in Porcelain.

Created by Jingdezhen ceramic artist Yan Wenlu, this hand-carved porcelain tea cup brings together traditional ceramic carving and the symbolism of the Chinese Zodiac.

With more than 20 years devoted to ceramic carving, Yan is a National First-Class Technician and an inheritor of Jingdezhen’s intangible cultural heritage. Each piece is individually carved by hand, allowing the character of the zodiac animal to emerge through fine lines, subtle relief, and carefully varied depth.

The simplicity of white porcelain allows the carving itself to take center stage. As light moves across the surface, the raised and recessed details create gentle shifts in shadow and texture, revealing the precision of the artist’s hand.

The collection includes all twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac, each carrying its own traditional symbolism. Choose the animal connected with your birth year, select one for its meaning, or simply choose the creature you feel most drawn to.

The Twelve Zodiac Animals
Rat 
Often associated with intelligence, resourcefulness, and adaptability.
Ox 
A symbol of diligence, reliability, patience, and quiet strength.
Tiger 
Associated with courage, confidence, vitality, and protection.
Rabbit
Often connected with gentleness, grace, sensitivity, and peace.
Dragon 
A powerful symbol of strength, good fortune, vitality, and aspiration.
Snake 
Associated with wisdom, intuition, elegance, and transformation.
Horse 
A symbol of freedom, energy, independence, and forward movement.
Goat 
Often associated with kindness, harmony, creativity, and calm.
Monkey 
Connected with curiosity, intelligence, playfulness, and ingenuity.
Rooster 
A symbol of confidence, attentiveness, diligence, and vitality.
Dog 
Associated with loyalty, sincerity, companionship, and protection.
Pig 
Often connected with generosity, abundance, warmth, and contentment.

Not Sure Which One to Choose?

Your Chinese Zodiac animal is traditionally determined by your lunar birth year, with the cycle repeating every twelve years.

If you already know your zodiac sign, simply select the corresponding animal. You can also choose a cup for its symbolism, as a meaningful gift, or simply because a particular carving speaks to you.

Please note: The Chinese Zodiac year begins with Lunar New Year rather than January 1. If you were born in January or February, your zodiac animal may belong to the previous lunar year, so we recommend checking your exact birth date before choosing.

The Artist Behind the Work
Yan Wenlu is a Jingdezhen ceramic carving artist, National First-Class Technician, and an inheritor of Jingdezhen’s intangible cultural heritage.

For more than two decades, his practice has focused on ceramic carving and relief decoration. Working directly on porcelain, he uses variations in line, depth, and texture to give traditional subjects a distinctive sense of movement and character.

What Makes Each Piece Special

Hand-Carved by the Artist

Each piece is individually carved by Yan Wenlu rather than produced from a molded decorative pattern. Subtle variations in line, depth, and expression make every cup slightly different.

Sculptural Porcelain

The clean white porcelain provides a quiet backdrop for the carving, allowing light and shadow to reveal the fine relief and surface detail.

Twelve Animals, Twelve Meanings

From the strength of the Tiger to the gentleness of the Rabbit, each zodiac animal carries layers of traditional symbolism, making the cup especially meaningful as a personal piece or gift.

Made to Be Used and Collected

Created as a functional tea vessel, each cup also carries the individual hand and carving style of the artist, giving it a place beyond everyday tableware.

Details

• Artist: Yan Wenlu
• Material: Porcelain
• Technique: Hand-Carved Relief
• Designs: 12 Chinese Zodiac animals
• Origin: Jingdezhen, China
• Packaging: Fabric-covered presentation box
• Certificate: Includes a collection certificate for the work
• Availability: Availability varies by zodiac design. If your selected piece is not currently available, it may be made to order by the artist.
• Making Time: Approximately 7 days for made-to-order pieces.

Please contact us if you would like to confirm current availability before ordering. Made-to-order pieces require approximately 7 days before dispatch. This is separate from shipping time.

A Note on Handmade Work
Each cup is individually carved by hand. Slight variations in carving, surface detail, and finish are natural characteristics of the artist’s process and make each piece unique.