Ember Red Flower Spirit Cup

From 1705, the forty-fourth year of the Kangxi reign, Jiangxi governor Lang Tingji oversaw production at Jingdezhen’s imperial kilns. Charged with reviving the lost Xuande copper-red tradition, the workshops developed the brilliant high-fired glaze later known as Langyao red.

Copper is exceptionally sensitive at high temperatures, making the colour difficult to achieve. Traditional sayings describe nine unsuccessful firings out of ten and warn: “If you wish to become poor, fire Langyao red.”

Its defining characteristics are expressed in the phrase tuōkǒu, chuízú, láng bù liú: a pale mouth, glaze descending towards the foot, yet stopping before it runs onto the base. The glaze thins at the lip to reveal white beneath, while the colour deepens down the body.

Fine Langyao red is admired for its vivid, even colour, subtly visible hair-fine markings and a cleanly finished foot. On this substantial Flower Spirit cup, gilt decoration at the rim adds a bright counterpoint to the red, carrying wishes for good fortune and a home filled with precious things.