Ru kiln tea sets, ranked first among the five famous kilns, are named after Ru County where they are produced. In the history of Chinese ceramics, they have been praised as ‘Ru kiln is the leader.’ Ru ware has a simple and elegant shape, uses precious agate for the glaze, and has a unique color, earning the acclaim ‘agate as glaze, passed down from ancient times.’
Ru ware ranks first among the five great kilns of the Song Dynasty: Ru, Guan, Ge, Ding, and Jun. It is named after Ru Prefecture, where it was produced, and is historically renowned in Chinese ceramics as ‘Ru ware being the foremost.’
The Ru kiln site is located in Ruzhou, Henan Province. Its shape is simple and elegant, and it uses precious agate for the glaze, giving it a unique color. It has been praised as “agate used as glaze, a tradition passed down through generations.” The surface of the ware features fine cymbic crackles, with characteristics described as “pear skin, crab claw, sesame flower,” and is known to the world as “resembling jade, not jade, yet surpassing jade.”
Ru kiln takes the inheritance of art as its mission, using traditional handmade ceramic techniques. The process of making a single piece of ceramic involves up to thirteen steps, including selecting and refining clay, stacking clay, throwing the clay body, imprinting the clay, trimming, water pressing, painting, glazing, firing, forming the ceramic, and repairing any defects. The workmanship is meticulous, the design is beautiful, and Ru porcelain excels in its layering of glaze. The shapes are simple and elegant, with a moderate glossy finish. Because the Ru porcelain glaze is thick, it often develops crackles resembling fish scales or cicada wings. Over time, tea stains may adhere to the cracks, forming irregular and interwoven patterns. As a result, the texture feels smooth like fat, embodying the beauty of something that seems like jade but is not quite jade.
Ru ware tea sets with sky-blue glaze, under bright sunlight, take on a greenish-yellow hue, resembling the golden sunlight gleaming in a clear blue sky after the rain when clouds disperse. In dim light, the color shifts to a bluish-green, like the crystal-clear water of a lake. Ru ware tea sets with moon-white glaze shine like moonlight, appearing elegant, tranquil, and softly lustrous, with a watery charm, solid and generous, serene and noble, simple yet profound, full of artistic spirit, with a gentle, jade-like smoothness. To the touch, it has a distinct buttery feel, and the glaze is thick and glossy, looking like emerald peaks, a beauty that resembles jade yet is not quite jade. Moon-white Ru ware is crafted using traditional handmade techniques, including hand-throwing and shaping, with multiple precise and delicate processes, resulting in well-proportioned and uniformly thick pieces. The glaze surface is fine and warm, smooth as the finest fat, flawless like a cloud, and pure without a trace of dust.
The glaze of Ru kiln sky blue is bright, even, and delicate, with dense crackle patterns and a sky blue color. The tone is concentrated yet not stagnant, the shape is elegant without being flashy; the soft light is faint and graceful, exceptionally refined. The sky blue glaze is extremely precious. The bean green and earthy green colors of Ru kiln—warm and simple, with a broad and generous character.
Caring for Ru Ware:
1. When handling, clean both the inside and outside of Ru ware to avoid oil or dirt contacting the porcelain;
2. When using, you can dip a maintenance brush in tea to moisten the surface of the Ru ware. Afterwards, you can appreciate the changes in the ‘cicada wing’ glaze patterns on the Ru porcelain surface (for Ru ware that is used over a long time, the appearance of tea patterns is normal, and the texture gives it an antique charm);
3. After using Ru ware, clean out the tea leaves and rinse with clean water to dry;
4. When not in use, Ru ware can be placed in a dry, clean, and elegant room.
Collecting Ru Ware:
1. Ru ware should be displayed in a well-ventilated, dry, and clean elegant room;
2. After careful maintenance and handling, Ru ware develops its unique spirit, with each piece having distinct changes in the ‘cicada wing’ glaze, making each item truly one-of-a-kind—a perfect collectible;
3. Do not leave Ru ware unused for long periods. Regular use allows one to appreciate the aesthetic integration of its texture with tea, providing visual pleasure;
4. Collectors should sincerely feel the cultural essence of Ru ware: transforming clay into something eternal, representing the pinnacle of taste and aesthetic perfection.
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