Tuanhua Ceramic Gongfu Teapot – 140 mL

This teapot is crafted in Dehua, China, using natural mineral clay and fired at high temperatures. It features a vintage blue-and-white glaze decorated with various traditional tuanhua (Chinese medallion floral motifs), arranged in a lively and balanced way. The design is applied using an in-glaze decal technique.

Inside the pot is a built-in multi-hole filter ball that helps catch tea leaves and ensures a smooth pour. The teapot feels fine and delicate in hand, with a compact and elegant form, making it suitable both as a gift and for personal use.

Material: Ceramic
Capacity: 140 mL
Size: Length 11.8 cm; Body width 7.2 cm; Height 8.5 cm

What is Tuanhua?
Tuanhua, also known as “ball-flower patterns,” doesn’t refer to any specific flower. Instead, it’s a decorative style where flowers, fruits, and geometric elements are arranged within a circular outline, forming a compact “ball-like” motif. The earliest versions date back to the Shang dynasty, appearing on bronze and white pottery. By the Yongzheng period of the Qing dynasty, tuánhuā became widely used in imperial porcelain—especially in famille-rose ware—and later spread to folk kilns, becoming a beloved decorative style.

Tuánhuā designs are known for their lively, free layouts. Circles of different sizes are arranged in seemingly casual yet harmonious compositions—sometimes single, sometimes overlapping in pairs or groups of three. Often paired with colors like white, black, and celadon white, they create a light, balanced visual effect. These motifs are commonly used on porcelain, clothing, and furniture, symbolizing reunion, prosperity, and completeness, carrying blessings of good fortune.