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Dragon's Ascent | White Porcelain Dragon Cup · The Ritual in Your Hand

Q: Occasions or Usage

• Personal Rituals – For tea, coffee, herbal infusions, or whiskey; elevates solo moments with elegance• Decor & Display – Adds a refined, cultural accent to study desks, tea tables, or display shelves• Gift of Honor – Symbolizing elevation and success, this artistic porcelain cup is a meaningful and collectible gift

Q: Ideal For

• Discerning Gift Givers – Ideal for celebrating promotions, housewarmings, or personal milestones• Aesthetic Lifestyle Seekers – For those who value intentional living and meaningful design• Ceramic Art Collectors – A timeless piece for collectors who appreciate structural ingenuity and symbolic richness

The dragon that rises with every lift

Dragon's Ascent draws from the ancient Chinese ritual vessel form zūn (尊) — a vessel associated with ceremony, status, and the weight of significant occasions. The cup body stands upright and composed; the handle is a dragon in motion, curving and rising from the body with the energy of something that cannot be still. Three feet lift the cup off any surface it rests on, echoing the dǐnglì (鼎立) posture of classical Chinese vessels — standing firm, standing tall. Available in white and gold. For tea, coffee, or any drink that deserves to be held with intention.

Color Gold White

Regular price: $9,000.00 TWD
Regular price
Sale price: $9,000.00 TWD

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Contemporary White Porcelain Craft · Fired at 1300°C

Shipping / Returns | Gift Packaging | Porcelain Care | Custom Base

Designed by Taiwanese artist Heinrich Wang

Designed by contemporary white porcelain artist Heinrich Wang, each piece embodies Eastern philosophy and contemporary form.

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Transforming life philosophy into functional art, conveying a Zen-inspired modern aesthetic.

Transparent-glazed pure white porcelain | Hand crafted

Crafted with a transparent glaze technique, revealing the pure beauty of porcelain’s natural white after firing.

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Only human hands can convey their warmth — every NewChi Porcelain piece is handmade, embracing the challenges of fine porcelain craftsmanship.

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Gift Box & All-Occasion Card

Perfect for important festivals, greetings to elders, corporate gifting, and art collections — conveying taste and blessings. If you would like a handwritten all-occasion card, please note your request in the remarks field at checkout.

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For custom wooden or acrylic bases, please contact customer service.

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Why Dragon's Ascent | Why This Cup

The dragon handle is an invitation to a different kind of grip. The curving dragon form guides the hand to a specific hold — fingers finding the arc of the dragon body, the thumb settling at the natural resting point. The act of picking up this cup is slightly more deliberate than picking up an ordinary one. That deliberateness is the point. Each lift is a small, conscious entry into the moment.

The cup body takes its form from the ancient zūn — dignity carried forward. The zūn was among the most ceremonially significant vessel forms of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, associated with ritual, rank, and the gravity of important gatherings. Heinrich Wang reinterprets this form in contemporary white porcelain — the composed, upright body preserves the zūn's quiet authority; the dragon handle injects the energy of a life fully engaged. Still and dynamic, in the same hand.

Three feet — the classical posture of standing firm. The three-footed base echoes the dǐnglì (鼎立) imagery of classical Chinese bronze vessels — the tripod stance that communicates stability, accountability, and the willingness to hold one's ground. The detail is understated. Its cultural resonance is not.

White and gold — two different qualities of the same conviction. The white finish lets the natural warmth of high-fired porcelain speak for itself — warm, restrained, a daily companion for quiet mornings. The gold finish traces the dragon's outline in gold, giving the form a luminous presence suited to significant gifts and display. Same cup, two registers.

Heinrich's Design Note: Crafting a Cup for Yourself Explore the Complete Dragon's Ascent Tea Set

使用情境｜Usage Scenarios

A morning or afternoon ritual
Tea or coffee in Dragon's Ascent — the grip of the dragon handle slows the act of drinking slightly, makes it more present. Heinrich Wang wrote in "Crafting a Cup for Yourself": the vessel is the medium through which a person converses with themselves. Dragon's Ascent is that conversation, held in the hand.
Receiving someone who matters
Presenting Dragon's Ascent to an important guest says something before a word is exchanged. The zūn form, the dragon in motion, the three feet standing firm — the cup communicates the weight of the occasion on its own.
On the desk or in the study
When not in use, Dragon's Ascent holds its presence on a surface. The white finish integrates quietly into any space; the gold finish commands attention. Either way, it is a piece that continues to reward looking at.

設計細節｜Design Detail

The dragon handle is the most technically demanding element of this piece. It is formed separately and joined to the cup body while the clay is still workable — the arc of the join must be calculated to account for shrinkage during firing, so that after the kiln, handle and body meet cleanly without gap or misalignment. The suspended portions of the dragon form are most prone to deformation at high temperature; every finished piece with the dragon's movement intact and the join seamless represents careful, sequential handwork.

The three-footed base requires each foot to be positioned so that the cup stands level — a deviation in any foot affects the whole. The spacing and height of the three feet are calibrated so the cup maintains balance regardless of the surface it stands on. The contrast between the spare geometry of the cup body and the elaborate movement of the dragon handle is not accidental. It is the design's central statement: composure and vitality, held together in the same form.

Product Detail

Design Concept

Dragon's Ascent is a white porcelain cup by Heinrich Wang, designed around the convergence of two classical Chinese forms — the ceremonial vessel zūn and the dragon. The zūn brings composed authority; the dragon brings motion and vitality. Together they resolve into a cup that asks something of the person holding it: to be both settled and alive, both present and in motion.

Heinrich Wang writes: "It is at once plain and luxurious — on one hand an expression of absolute confidence, returning to the simple and refined pursuit of life; on the other, a richly symbolic cultural resonance, inviting exploration, learning, and the vivid experience of living fully. It is the solemn ceremony of the outward gesture — passionate and noble."

For the full account of how this cup came to be:
Crafting a Cup for Yourself — Heinrich Wang

Occasions or Usage

• Personal Rituals – For tea, coffee, herbal infusions, or whiskey; elevates solo moments with elegance

• Decor & Display – Adds a refined, cultural accent to study desks, tea tables, or display shelves

• Gift of Honor – Symbolizing elevation and success, this artistic porcelain cup is a meaningful and collectible gift

Ideal For

• Discerning Gift Givers – Ideal for celebrating promotions, housewarmings, or personal milestones

• Aesthetic Lifestyle Seekers – For those who value intentional living and meaningful design

• Ceramic Art Collectors – A timeless piece for collectors who appreciate structural ingenuity and symbolic richness

Dimension

L12 × W8.5 × H9.4 cm

Standing with composed dignity and sweeping boldness —
the dragon rising through the sweet uncertainty of a life well lived.
— Heinrich Wang

About the Artist | Heinrich Wang

Heinrich Wang, founder of NewChi Porcelain and Tittot, is one of Taiwan’s most representative contemporary artists in white porcelain and liuli glass. Renowned for infusing philosophy and poetry into object design, his works have been exhibited at the National Museum of History in Taiwan, the Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, and the Triennale di Milano, earning recognition from collectors worldwide. Every porcelain piece is personally overseen by Wang, offering an aesthetic choice that unites artistry, cultural depth, and practical function.

Discover More Heinrich's Design Note

FAQ

How does the dragon handle feel to hold? Is it comfortable for daily use?

The dragon handle is designed to guide a specific grip — the curve of the dragon body leads the fingers to a natural resting position, with the thumb settling at the upper arc and the fingers following the lower curve. It is slightly more deliberate to pick up than a standard handle, which is intentional: the grip asks for a moment of attention before the drinking begins. For daily use, most people find that this quality of the handle becomes part of the ritual they come to value, rather than an inconvenience.

What is the difference between the white and gold finishes? Which should I choose?

Both finishes are the same cup — same form, same material, same craft. The difference is entirely in presence. The white finish is warm and restrained; the natural luminosity of the high-fired porcelain is the only visual event, and the cup integrates quietly into most spaces and occasions. The gold finish traces the dragon outline in gold, making the movement of the handle more immediately visible and giving the piece a more declarative quality — appropriate for a significant gift or a piece intended for display. For daily personal use, white. For a gift or a statement piece, gold.

Is Dragon's Ascent appropriate as a gift for a career promotion?

It is one of the most directly fitting pieces in the NewChi Porcelain range for this occasion. The dragon in Chinese cultural tradition carries the specific meaning of upward movement, forward momentum, and the energy of someone rising to meet what is in front of them — lóng téng (龍騰), the dragon ascending, is the most enduring image of career advancement in the culture. Giving Dragon's Ascent at a promotion says something specific without needing to be explained. The gold finish adds further weight for a significant milestone. Ships in a gift box.

Gift Wrapping

Each NewChi Porcelain piece comes with an elegantly designed gift box.

From the moment it is opened, it conveys your thoughtfulness and refined taste.

Whether it’s a housewarming gift, a wedding present, or a gesture of appreciation for someone important, it expresses warmth and emotion beyond words.

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