Plum Blossoms, Lamps, and Imagination: Visiting Two Ceramic Artists in Jingdezhen

Exploring an artist’s pottery studio in Jingdezhen, China, is always an exciting experience. We had scheduled our visit a while ago, and finally, on a rainy summer day, we met Jianyu in his countryside home outside the city. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that Jianyu’s girlfriend, A Mai, is also a ceramic artist—a pairing that’s relatively common in Jingdezhen, where many young artists share a deep passion for pottery.

A Mai’s charming studio is filled with her imaginative creations, each a vivid expression of her meticulous craftsmanship. She specializes in one-of-a-kind nightstand ceramic lamps, featuring miniature figures living inside tiny houses. We were deeply moved by her whimsical, childlike themes and genuine creativity. Beyond lamps, A Mai also crafts larger ceramic figures—elephants, wolves, bears, and more—bringing her imaginative visions to life in both sculpture and drawing. Every piece in her showroom bursts with creativity and tells its own story.

Jianyu’s teapots first caught our eye at the night bazaar market in Jingdezhen, particularly his signature Plum Blossom series. His dedication to detail and functionality is evident in every creation. He joked about having “the most disorganized studio space,” but in reality, his workspace is neat, well-organized, and carefully arranged for a smooth workflow. We admire the Plum Blossom series and look forward to seeing more of his innovative designs in the future.

Nestled between the water and mountains, A Mai and Jianyu enjoy cooking—Jianyu, an excellent chef, even prepared dinner for us—and often spend their free time kayaking or hiking. Though their ceramic styles differ greatly, the couple shares a harmonious life under one roof, supporting and understanding each other’s artistic journey.

We’ve curated a selection of Jianyu’s teaware and look forward to adding A Mai’s enchanting fairy-tale night lamps to our collection in the near future.