Hand-Painted Antique Ice Plum Blossom Blue & White Ya Shou Bei (Pressure Hand Tea Cup)

By artist Modu：Ya Shou Bei, or “pressure hand cup”, is a legendary tea vessel first created in the imperial kilns of China’s Ming Dynasty (Yongle period, 15th century). It is revered as the “king of tea cups” for its perfect ergonomic design: when held in the palm, the thickened rim sits steadily against the fingers, giving a gentle, reassuring weight that fits perfectly in the hand, hence the name “pressure hand”. I shape every cup by hand, refining the curve of the body, the thickness of the rim, and the height of the foot until it delivers the perfect balance and feel for tea sipping. The clay is premium antique formula kaolin, paired with traditional antique glaze, fired at over 1300℃ to create a warm, muted luster that echoes the charm of ancient porcelain.I use the traditional underglaze blue technique to paint the classic ice plum blossom motif, a signature design of Qing Dynasty Kangxi period blue and white porcelain. The deep cobalt blue background mimics the cracked texture of ice, with delicate white plum blossoms blooming across the surface. In Eastern culture, the plum blossom is the symbol of unyielding integrity, noble character, and hope— it blooms bravely in the cold of winter, defying the frost