Inside Jingdezhen’s Hidden Pottery Studios: Wood-fired tea ware masters

Behind an ordinary gate in Jingdezhen lies a world of fire, clay, and craftsmanship. In this episode, Gabriele visits two remarkable ceramic artists whose work represents very different approaches to tea ware. The journey begins at the studio of Ren Fei, a Jingdezhen artist specializing in traditional wood firing. Here, every gaiwan and teapot emerges from the kiln with its own unique character. While the shapes may be nearly identical, the interaction between fire, ash, heat, and clay ensures that no two pieces are ever truly the same. You'll get a close look inside the kiln itself, discover tiny hand-thrown teapots and gaiwans, and see why wood-fired pottery remains one of the most respected—and unpredictable—forms of ceramic art. Then the journey continues to the studio of Janu, the artist behind Nannuoshan’s popular Fo Shou collection. From her workspace to her latest creations, this visit offers a rare glimpse into the life and work of one of Jingdezhen’s most recognizable contemporary ceramic artists. Along the way you'll discover: • How wood-fired tea ware is created • Why every kiln firing produces unique results • Tiny handcrafted teapots as small as 30–50 ml • The difference between production pottery and artist-made pieces • The people and stories behind modern Chinese tea ware This is more than a pottery tour. It’s a look into the artists, workshops, and traditions that keep Jingdezhen’s ceramic culture alive today. Subscribe for more tea journeys, artist visits, sourcing adventures, and deep dives into tea culture. 👉 JOIN DISCORD:   / discord   👉 LINK TO OUR ONLINE SHOPS: 🇺🇸 https://us.nannuoshan.org 🇪🇺 https://nannuoshan.org 🎬 If you are looking to improve your tea knowledge and brewing skills, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel:    / @nannuoshan   📖 For even more insights into the tea world and to access bonus material and special offers, join our newsletter: 🇺🇸 https://us.nannuoshan.org/pages/newsl... 🇪🇺 https://nannuoshan.org/pages/newsletter 🫖 TEAWARE • Gaiwan of all shapes and sizes 🇺🇸 https://us.nannuoshan.org/collections... 🇪🇺 https://www.nannuoshan.org/collection... • Yixing and other teapots 🇺🇸 https://us.nannuoshan.org/collections... 🇪🇺 https://www.nannuoshan.org/collection... 👉 FOLLOW US • 🇺🇸 American online shop: https://us.nannuoshan.org • 🇪🇺 European online shop: https://nannuoshan.org • Instagram:   / nannuoshan   • Facebook:   / nannuoshan   #tea #gongfucha #gaiwan #Jingdezhen #TeaWare #WoodFiredPottery #Ceramics #Gaiwan #HandmadePottery #TeaCulture #ChineseCeramics #ArtisanMade #TeaLovers