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Handmade Dehua Ice Plum Blue and White Porcelain GaiwanHandmade Dehua Ice Plum Blue and White Porcelain Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$56.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$56.00 USD
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Gold Painting Love of Butterfly High-Grade GaiwanGold Painting Love of Butterfly High-Grade Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$65.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$65.00 USD
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Antique Branch Lotus Celadon GaiwanAntique Branch Lotus Celadon Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$57.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$57.00 USD
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Retro Gold High-End Celadon GaiwanRetro Gold High-End Celadon Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$55.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$55.00 USD
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Grass and Wood Gray Porcelain GaiwanGrass and Wood Gray Porcelain Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$50.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$50.00 USD
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Chinese Style Gold-Painted Anti-Scald GaiwanChinese Style Gold-Painted Anti-Scald Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$55.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$55.00 USD
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Iron Wire Moon White Ru Ware GaiwanIron Wire Moon White Ru Ware Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$60.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$60.00 USD
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Dehua Sweet White Begonia Hand Painted Ceramic GaiwanDehua Sweet White Begonia Hand Painted Ceramic Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$110.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$110.00 USD
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Hand-Painted Blue and White Porcelain Landscape GaiwanHand-Painted Blue and White Porcelain Landscape Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$55.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$55.00 USD
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Creative Grass and Wood Gray Glaze Handmade GaiwanCreative Grass and Wood Gray Glaze Handmade Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$56.00 USD $115.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$56.00 USD $115.00 USD
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Underglaze Hand Painted Loquat GaiwanUnderglaze Hand Painted Loquat Gaiwan
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$45.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$45.00 USD
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Handmade Cloisonne Silver Three Cai GaiwanHandmade Cloisonne Silver Three Cai Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$125.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$125.00 USD
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Cute Cat Ru Kiln Open GaiwanCute Cat Ru Kiln Open Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$48.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$48.00 USD
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Dehua Hand-Pinching Persimmon GaiwanDehua Hand-Pinching Persimmon Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$39.00 USD $59.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$39.00 USD $59.00 USD
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Mutton Fat Jade Single GaiwanMutton Fat Jade Single Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$48.00 USD $70.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$48.00 USD $70.00 USD
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Retro Ceramic Ice Flower Glaze Lotus Seedpod GaiwanRetro Ceramic Ice Flower Glaze Lotus Seedpod Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$52.00 USD $70.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$52.00 USD $70.00 USD
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High-End Glazed Red Blue and White GaiwanHigh-End Glazed Red Blue and White Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$55.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$55.00 USD
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New Chinese Moon Butterfly Ercai GaiwanNew Chinese Moon Butterfly Ercai Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$48.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$48.00 USD
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Retro Moon Butterfly Style Two Only GaiwanRetro Moon Butterfly Style Two Only Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$50.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$50.00 USD
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Pink Cherry Blossom GaiwanPink Cherry Blossom Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$50.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$50.00 USD
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Blue and White Non-Scald Ceramic GaiwanBlue and White Non-Scald Ceramic Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$58.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$58.00 USD
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High-Grade Ceramic GaiwanHigh-Grade Ceramic Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$60.00 USD $75.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$60.00 USD $75.00 USD
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High-End Old Clay Blue and White GaiwanHigh-End Old Clay Blue and White Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$100.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$100.00 USD
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Dehua Wenxin Grass and Wood Gray GaiwanDehua Wenxin Grass and Wood Gray Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$55.00 USD $89.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$55.00 USD $89.00 USD
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Hand Painted Lotus Cover Tea Cup White PorcelainHand Painted Lotus Cover Tea Cup White Porcelain
- Regular price
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$60.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$60.00 USD
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Pig Oil Red Tire Frozen Petals GaiwanPig Oil Red Tire Frozen Petals Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$45.00 USD $70.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$45.00 USD $70.00 USD
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Hand Painted Lotus Porcelain GaiwanHand Painted Lotus Porcelain Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$58.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$58.00 USD
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Creative Cherry Blossom Mud GaiwanCreative Cherry Blossom Mud Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$50.00 USD $70.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$50.00 USD $70.00 USD
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Handmade Pinch Flower Pink GaiwanHandmade Pinch Flower Pink Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$55.00 USD $65.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$55.00 USD $65.00 USD
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Retro Old Clay Blue and White GaiwanRetro Old Clay Blue and White Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$45.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$45.00 USD
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Cherry Blossom Mud Three-Piece GaiwanCherry Blossom Mud Three-Piece Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$42.00 USD $70.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$42.00 USD $70.00 USD
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Gracked Glaze Ru Ware GaiwanGracked Glaze Ru Ware Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$75.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$75.00 USD
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Stoneware Handmade Dunhuang Impression GaiwanStoneware Handmade Dunhuang Impression Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$90.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$90.00 USD
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Japanese Retro Stoneware Gilding Han GaiwanJapanese Retro Stoneware Gilding Han Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$42.00 USD $54.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$42.00 USD $54.00 USD
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Qingxi Purple Pottery Youfu Pot with Ceramic GaiwanQingxi Purple Pottery Youfu Pot with Ceramic Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$55.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$55.00 USD
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Chinese Handmade Embossed White Porcelain GaiwanChinese Handmade Embossed White Porcelain Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$56.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$56.00 USD
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Retro Grass and Wood Gray Two Cai GaiwanRetro Grass and Wood Gray Two Cai Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$40.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$40.00 USD
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Japanese Style Lotus Ceramic GaiwanJapanese Style Lotus Ceramic Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$45.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$45.00 USD
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Japanese Simple Household Ceramic Ice Gray Glaze Wave Hand-Held PotJapanese Simple Household Ceramic Ice Gray Glaze Wave Hand-Held Pot
- Regular price
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$40.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$40.00 USD
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Dehua Sheep Fat Jade White Porcelain TeapotDehua Sheep Fat Jade White Porcelain Teapot
- Regular price
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$49.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$49.00 USD
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Creative Grass and Wood Gray Persimmon GaiwanCreative Grass and Wood Gray Persimmon Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$45.00 USD $62.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$45.00 USD $62.00 USD
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Stoneware Vintage Ceramic GaiwanStoneware Vintage Ceramic Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$45.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$45.00 USD
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Handmade Stoneware Gold Iron Glaze Plum Blossom GaiwanHandmade Stoneware Gold Iron Glaze Plum Blossom Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$45.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$45.00 USD
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Retro Dunhuang Impression Fu Lu Ercai GaiwanRetro Dunhuang Impression Fu Lu Ercai Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$50.00 USD $60.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$50.00 USD $60.00 USD
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Vintage Stoneware Gold Iron Glaze Hand-Held PotVintage Stoneware Gold Iron Glaze Hand-Held Pot
- Regular price
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$45.00 USD $55.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$45.00 USD $55.00 USD
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Gu Yue Hand-Painted Blue and White Porcelain GaiwanGu Yue Hand-Painted Blue and White Porcelain Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$69.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$69.00 USD
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White Porcelain Large Single GaiwanWhite Porcelain Large Single Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$42.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$42.00 USD
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Jade Mud White Pinch Flower Three-Piece GaiwanJade Mud White Pinch Flower Three-Piece Gaiwan
- Regular price
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$55.00 USD $90.00 USD - Regular price
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$0.00 USD - Sale price
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$55.00 USD $90.00 USD
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What is Chinese Gaiwan?
A Chinese gaiwan is a traditional tea brewing vessel used for the gongfu tea ceremony. It consists of three parts - a lid, bowl, and saucer. The name gaiwan literally translates to "covered bowl" in Chinese.
Gaiwans are typically small, round, and made from porcelain, clay, or glass. High quality gaiwans have very thin walls to help quickly cool the tea leaves during infusion. They originated in the Ming dynasty in China and are also sometimes called a Chinese tea cup.
The distinctive shape allows the gaiwan to be grasped with one hand and the lid removed with the other. This allows for efficient infusions of tea with water and decanting into teacups. The lid helps circulate flavors and aromas.
Gaiwans are designed specifically for brewing loose leaf tea. They allow very short steeping times which brings out subtle flavors from the tea. Gaiwans are an essential component for participating in traditional Chinese gongfu tea ceremonies.
What is Gaiwan Used for?
A gaiwan is traditionally used for brewing and serving Chinese tea. It is designed specifically for the process of gongfu cha or the Chinese gongfu tea ceremony.
Here are some of the main uses of a gaiwan:
- Brewing loose leaf tea - The bowl shape and lid allow the leaves to unfurl and circulate freely to release flavors.
- Quick infusions - The thin porcelain or glass helps cool the tea rapidly, allowing very brief steeping times of 10-30 seconds.
- Containing aroma - The lid helps trap the aroma during infusion to concentrate the flavor.
- Decanting - After steeping, the tea is poured from the gaiwan into small tasting cups for enjoyment.
- Cooling - Gaiwans are used to quickly cool and mix the tea before drinking to avoid over-steeping.
- Presentation - Serving tea in a gaiwan is visually appealing and showcases the tea leaves.
- Portioning - The small size contains 1-3 portions of tea at a time for individual enjoyment.
- Convenience - Compact for easy handling and built-in tray saucer for holding spent leaves.
While designed for tea, a gaiwan can also be used for brewing other beverages like flower tisanes or tonic herbs. Here are some additional unique uses cases that highlight the versatility of the gaiwan as a small container beyond brewing tea:
- Jewelry holder - The bowl can neatly organize and display rings, earrings or necklaces on a bedroom vanity or dresser.
- Mini vase - Fresh cut flowers or small branches can be attractively arranged in a gaiwan for a natural table centerpiece.
- Candle holder - The bowl can hold a tealight or small votive candle to create ambient lighting.
- Petals/potpourri dish - Dried flower petals, potpourri or other embellishments can fill a gaiwan for added visual interest.
- Trinket tray - Small collectibles like seashells, stones or antiques can be artfully displayed.
- Desk organizer - Office supplies like paper clips, push pins or rubber bands can be corralled in the bowl.
- Serving dish - The built-in saucer allows a gaiwan to display bonbons, nuts or other small snacks.
- Bath salts container - The bowl can hold bath salts, with the lid keeping them dry in the steamy bathroom.
- Mini planter - Succulents and small plants can live within the bowl, using the saucer to catch drips.
How to Use Gaiwan Gracefully?
Here are some tips for how to use a gaiwan gracefully:
- Choose an appropriately sized gaiwan - Pick one that will hold enough tea for all your guests without being too large or unwieldy.
- Warm the gaiwan first - Rinse it with hot water to maintain the proper steeping temperature.
- Measure out the tea leaves - Use about 1-3 grams per portion depending on type of tea.
- Hold the lid firmly in place - This prevents the lid from slipping while pouring.
- Pour from a height - Raise your arm higher to pour smoothly in a thin stream.
- Pour slowly and steadily - This showcases the tea while preventing splashing.
- Swirl the tea gently - Move your wrist in small circles while pouring to aerate the tea.
- Present the gaiwan elegantly - Place it near the center of the table within easy reach.
- Refill the gaiwan gracefully - Extract multiple infusions from the same leaves.
- Clean seamlessly - Have a waste water basin and towels on hand.
- Enjoy the tranquil process - Focus on the aromas, flavors, and company.
With practice, using the gaiwan can become a graceful ritual. The key is to stay calm, focused, and present in the moment. The meditative process is just as important as the final cup of tea.