About
Where It All Began
The Phoenix Kiln began with a request from an American friend with a deep appreciation for Chinese tea and tea ware.
During one of my visits back to China, he asked if I could help him find an authentic Jian Zhan. At the time, I knew very little about these remarkable tea bowls. What began as a favor became a revelation.
The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. Jian Zhan is where history, craftsmanship, native clay, native mineral glaze, and fire come together in ways that are both artistic and scientific. Along the way, I also encountered pieces made with non-native clay, non-native mineral glaze, or industrial molds. Those experiences taught me how difficult it could be to recognize authentic Jian Zhan—and why authenticity would become the foundation of The Phoenix Kiln.
What started as a search for a single tea bowl gradually became something much more meaningful.
— Jin Cai
Founder, The Phoenix Kiln
The Artisan Team
Our works are made by a Jianyang artisan team led by Cao Yuming, a young ceramic artist and graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Cao leads glaze research and creative direction, working with artisans whose skills support each stage of making and firing.
We chose this team because their professional goals and standards align with ours: they pursue Jian Zhan as a long-term craft and field of research, not simply as a product. Early conversations showed the same openness; Cao explained materials and methods rather than steering me toward the most expensive work.
They use Jianyang’s local iron-rich clay and natural glaze minerals, follow traditional firing methods, and produce an unusually broad range of glaze expressions, including original glazes developed within the studio. Their work combines exceptional technical and artistic quality with prices grounded in the work itself—not in the premium attached to established names and titles.
Shared standards, honest collaboration, and a commitment to continued research form the basis of our partnership.
Because every piece is made by hand and the team maintains strict standards for what it releases, output is limited. For years, most available works were sold through private collector and tea networks in China, leaving little need for public online sales.
The Phoenix Kiln now reserves part of the team’s limited output in advance for our U.S. collection. Firing results cannot be predetermined, so individual pieces are selected only after the kiln is opened.
How We Select
Selection begins after firing. The team conducts the first review in Jianyang. Works reserved for The Phoenix Kiln are then sent to Maryland, where we examine each one for craftsmanship, firing character, visual presence, and overall balance.
Only the pieces that pass this review are individually photographed and documented for our website. The piece shown is the exact piece you will receive, stocked and shipped from Maryland, U.S.
Phoenix Reborn
The Phoenix Kiln takes its name from the ancient Chinese legend of the phoenix, a symbol of rebirth through fire.
To us, the phoenix represents both transformation and renewal. It reflects not only the remarkable changes that take place within the kiln, but also the enduring journey of Jian ware itself.
Once treasured during the Song Dynasty, Jian ware gradually faded from public awareness before gaining renewed appreciation in modern times.
The Phoenix Kiln was named to honor both journeys: the rebirth found in every successful firing, and the enduring tradition of Jian ware carried forward for generations to come.