When handling tea utensils for Chinese or Taiwanese tea, you may find yourself drawn to the motifs on the surfaces of the vessels, which evoke nature, animals, and plants. In Eastern decorative arts, the animal, plant, and landscape motifs featured on tea wares reflect long-standing cultural backgrounds and traditions in craftsmanship.
At SEKIMONO, we incorporate different subjects into each of our pieces so that you can appreciate the beauty of nature and craftsmanship during your daily tea rituals. This article presents the cultural backgrounds of these representative subjects and provides a curated list of the designs featured across our 14 copper tea utensil works.
1. Traditional Eastern Motifs and SEKIMONO Design List
| Motif / Subject | Cultural Background | Relevant SEKIMONO Work / Design Description |
|---|---|---|
| Plum Branches and Blossoms | A plant cherished in Eastern culture as one of the "Four Gentlemen" (Plum, Bamboo, Orchid, Chrysanthemum) for blooming in early spring despite the cold. | Plum Blossoms of Jiangnan (Plum Blossom in Jiangnan) | Tea Scoop (Design evocative of plum branches and blossoms) |
| Bamboo and Stones/Rocks | The contrast between the flexible bamboo that bends in wind and snow and the solid rock is a traditional theme in Eastern painting (Bamboo-Rock painting) representing a tranquil scene. | Bamboo & Stone (Bamboo & Stone) | Tea Scoop (Design evocative of bamboo and stone) / Listening to Bamboo (Listening to Bamboo on a Rock) | Pot Stand (Contour evocative of a rock and bamboo leaves) |
| Pomegranate | A fruit pattern long favored due to its rounded shape and the many seeds contained within. | Pomegranate (Pomegranate) | Tea Scoop (Rounded design evocative of a pomegranate) |
| Jin Chan (Money Toad) | A form evocative of the toad (Chan Chu) found in Eastern folklore (*Original design interpretation unique to SEKIMONO). | Golden Toad | Copper Tea Scoop (Three-dimensional design evocative of a Jin Chan) |
| Rounded Contours (Gold & Jade) | An idiom derived from sources like Chapter 9 of the "Tao Te Ching," symbolizing a hall filled with gold and jade, or vast erudition. | Gold & Jade | Copper Tea Scoop (Rounded contours and detailed character) |
| Lion | An animal figure long used in architecture and metalwork as a symbol of protection and majesty. | Auspicious Lion | Copper Teapot Lid Rest (Three-dimensional design evocative of a lion) |
| Buddha's Hand | A three-dimensional design incorporating motifs evocative of the Buddha's hand (*Original design interpretation unique to SEKIMONO). | Buddha's Hand | Lid Rest (Design evocative of a Buddha's hand) |
| Flowers and Leaves (Daylily) | A design of the plant, also known in classical literature by the alias "Forget-Worry Grass." | Daylily (Daylily) | Pot Stand (Design featuring flowers and flowing leaves) |
| Crab | A subject often incorporated into metalwork and stationery (such as paperweights) since the Edo period due to its presence in waterside environments. | Fortune from All Directions | Copper Teapot Stand (Three-dimensional design evocative of a crab) |
| Sansui (Landscape) | A traditional subject in Eastern ink wash painting depicting natural scenery such as mountains and rivers. | Hidden Landscape (Seeking a Hidden Realm) | Tea Scoop (Scenery evocative of a landscape) |
*The designs for each work are crafted as sculptural expressions evocative of Eastern natural objects and traditional motifs; they do not guarantee or grant any specific good fortune or blessings.
2. Hand-Finishing and Coloring at SEKIMONO
SEKIMONO works are hand-finished and surface-colored in copper at our partner workshop in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
The shadows within the three-dimensional reliefs shift depending on the lighting, and by gently wiping the pieces dry after each daily tea session, you can enjoy the texture deepening and mellowing over time.
Choose Your Tea Utensil by Design
You can view a list of all 14 designs and their dimensions here.
See All Copper Chinese Tea Utensils
