Ultra-thin naked fired cicada wing gaiwan with tripod base
Ultra-thin naked fired gaiwan with iron-black metallic patina
Naked fired gaiwan made from ultra-thin iron-bodied clay with tripod base
Ultra-thin naked fired gaiwan with iron-black ash-kissed surface on tripod base
Naked fired gaiwan with ultra-thin iron-bodied cicada wing design
Cicada wing ultra thin iron bodied naked fired gaiwan with tripod base
Ultra-thin naked fired gaiwan with tripod base and iron-black patina
Naked fired gaiwan with cicada wing thin walls and tripod base

Cicada Wing Ultra Thin Iron Bodied Naked Fired Gaiwan

$217.88

STYLE: Tripod

Tripod
Yuanbao
Mati

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Description
  • Discover the Cicada Wing wood-fired gaiwan, crafted from iron-rich Dehua clay with an ultra-thin body, natural ash effects and a close-fitting lid for Gongfu tea.
  • The Cicada Wing Ultra-Thin Naked-Fired Gaiwan is a wood-fired Dehua tea vessel made from iron-rich clay and fired in a reduction atmosphere at temperatures above 1,290°C. Its ultra-thin body, natural ash-kissed surface, tripod base, and close-fitting lid make it a distinctive choice for Gongfu tea brewing.

  • Product Details

    • Type: Gaiwan for Gongfu tea brewing

    • Material: Dehua high-purity primary kaolin with an iron-rich clay body

    • Firing: Naked, unglazed wood firing in a reduction atmosphere

    • Peak firing temperature: Above 1,290°C / 2,350°F

    • Surface: Naturally ash-kissed, unglazed finish with an iron-black metallic patina

    • Body: Ultra-thin Cicada Wing body, approximately 0.5 mm thick

    • Base: Tripod three-foot base

    • Lid: Close-fitting lid designed for controlled pouring

    • Capacity: Approximately 110 ml for the Cicada Wing style

    • Other styles: Yuanbao, approximately 110 ml; Mati, approximately 120 ml

    • Use: Gongfu tea, Chinese tea tasting, and everyday tea sessions

    • Care: Hand wash recommended

    • Food contact: Lead- and cadmium-free, made to meet applicable FDA/EU food-contact standards

  • What Makes the Cicada Wing Gaiwan Different?

    The Cicada Wing Gaiwan combines Dehua porcelain craftsmanship with an iron-rich clay body and naked wood firing. Instead of covering the surface with a conventional glaze, the vessel is exposed to the atmosphere of the kiln, allowing heat, flame, ash, clay and reduction conditions to contribute to its final appearance.

    The result is intentionally individual. The unglazed surface can show subtle variations in tone and ash effects from one firing to another, giving each vessel a character that cannot be reproduced exactly.

    The ultra-thin body is another defining feature. At approximately 0.5 mm for the Cicada Wing style, it creates a delicate feel in the hand while maintaining the structural strength expected from a high-fired vessel.

  • How to Use the Cicada Wing Gaiwan for Gongfu Tea

    The Cicada Wing Gaiwan is designed for short, repeated infusions rather than one long steep. Add your tea leaves, pour in hot water, allow the leaves to open, and use the lid to control the flow as you pour.

    Its close-fitting lid helps guide the tea while the wide opening gives you direct access to the leaves. The tripod base also gives the vessel a distinctive stance and adds visual character to the brewing process.

    For a broader explanation of why vessel shape, material and heat behavior matter, see our guide to how a gaiwan affects tea.

  • Is the Cicada Wing Gaiwan Easy to Handle?

    An ultra-thin gaiwan requires a little more attention than a thick-walled everyday vessel. The key is to hold the saucer and use the lid as a guide rather than gripping the hot bowl tightly.

    The close-fitting lid is particularly useful when pouring, while the compact Gongfu format allows the brewer to work with small quantities of tea and water.

    If you are new to gaiwan brewing, choosing the right capacity can make handling much easier. Our gaiwan size guide explains how different capacities suit different brewing habits.

  • What Does Naked Wood Firing Mean?

    Naked wood firing means the ceramic body is fired without a conventional glaze covering its surface. If you want to understand what a wood-fired gaiwan is in greater detail, see our guide. During the firing, the clay interacts directly with the kiln atmosphere, flame and wood ash.

    This process can create natural variation in color, texture and surface character. Because the result depends partly on the conditions inside the kiln, no two wood-fired vessels need to look exactly alike.

    If you want to understand the craft behind this process in greater detail, see our guide to what a wood-fired gaiwan is.

  • A Gongfu Heart, Three Personalities
    Every bowl in this Gaiwan Tea Set family holds a concentrated dose of tea—110 to 120 milliliters—engineered for the short, successive infusions of Gongfu brewing. Choose your shape:

    • Cicada Wing (9.5 × 6.8 cm, 110 ml): The highest shoulder, the thinnest wall, the most ethereal translucency.

    • Yuanbao / Ingot (9.2 × 7.5 cm, 110 ml): A squatter, broader profile inspired by ancient Chinese silver ingots; feels generous in the hand.

    • Mati / Horseshoe (9.0 × 7.0 cm, 120 ml): Slightly taller, with a subtle flare that gives you an extra sip of volume and a different pouring rhythm.

  • Care and Handling

    The Cicada Wing Gaiwan is vitrified through high-temperature firing, but its unglazed surface should still be treated with care.

    Hand washing is recommended. Avoid sudden thermal shocks, abrasive cleaning materials and unnecessary impact against hard surfaces. Allow the vessel to cool naturally before washing.

    Because the surface is intentionally unglazed, subtle differences in color and firing marks should be regarded as part of the character of a wood-fired vessel rather than as defects.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Is the Cicada Wing Gaiwan really wood-fired?

    Yes. The Cicada Wing Gaiwan is naked-fired in a wood-burning kiln under a reduction atmosphere, with peak firing temperatures above 1,290°C / 2,350°F.

    How much tea does the Cicada Wing Gaiwan hold?

    The Cicada Wing style holds approximately 110 ml. The Yuanbao style is approximately 110 ml, while the Mati style is approximately 120 ml.

    Is the surface glazed?

    No. The Cicada Wing uses a naked, unglazed firing process. Its surface develops naturally through the interaction of the clay, flame, ash and kiln atmosphere.

    Is this gaiwan suitable for beginners?

    Yes, but its ultra-thin body requires more careful handling than a thicker everyday gaiwan. Beginners who are comfortable learning basic gaiwan pouring technique can use it for Gongfu tea.

    What kind of tea can I brew in it?

    It can be used for a wide range of Chinese teas, including oolong, black tea, white tea and other teas commonly brewed Gongfu style.

  • Explore More Gaiwans

    If you are comparing different materials, shapes and firing styles, explore our Chinese Gaiwan collection to see porcelain, Dehua, wood-fired, hand-painted and other handcrafted gaiwans for Gongfu tea.

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Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve had thin gaiwans crack the moment boiling water hit them. Why should I trust this one?
Thermal shock kills low-fired, poorly vitrified clay, not high-fired stoneware. Because this Iron-Bodied Gaiwan is reduced at over 1290°C, the body becomes dense and elastic enough to absorb a 100°C pour without flinching. We routinely pre-warm it with hot water before brewing—just like you’d treat any fine porcelain—and it thrives. The 0.5 mm wall actually helps: a thinner section heats evenly and almost instantly, eliminating the internal stress that thick, uneven walls suffer. Use it daily; it won’t betray you.
The lid slid off during a pour and I scalded my hand. The fit feels loose and unsafe.
A gaiwan lid is not a vacuum seal—there must be a deliberate, tiny gap to let the tea liquor flow while the lid retains the leaves. However, if the lid falls off with a gentle tilt, that is a functional defect, not tradition. We test every set for the correct slope of the rim and lid gallery. The lid should glide open smoothly under your thumb and lock in place when you level the bowl. If yours behaves differently, we replace it without question. We also include a simple visual pouring guide in the box, because mastering the one-handed hold turns this from a fear into a daily pleasure.
Unglazed pottery is porous. After a few uses it looked stained and smelled like yesterday’s shou pu-erh.
That’s a legitimate fear with low-fire earthenware, but it does not apply here. This Naked-Fired Gaiwan is fully vitrified stoneware. Its surface is technically non-porous—water absorption is below 0.5%—so it can’t soak up tea liquor or odors. Any surface residue from a heavy pu-erh session sits on top and rinses off with hot water. No glaze also means no micro-crazing that can trap bacteria. A quick rinse and wipe restores the same bare iron patina you fell in love with on day one.
The three feet are uneven and the bowl rocks on my tea tray. It feels sloppy.
Tripod physics is useless if the three points aren’t in the same plane. Because we hand-build and high-fire each piece, microscopic variation is normal, but a noticeable wobble is a failure we take seriously. Before shipping, every Naked-Fired Tripod Gaiwan is placed on a calibrated granite flatness gauge to confirm all three feet sit solid. If yours rocks even slightly, reach out—we will replace it immediately, and we’ll cover the shipping.
110 ml is miniature. I have to brew six rounds just to fill my cup. Who is this actually for?
That’s exactly who it’s for: the drinker who wants six distinct rounds, not one large, flat mug. Gongfu brewing relies on a high leaf-to-water ratio and short steeps to create a layered narrative of flavor—floral on the first infusion, nutty on the third, sweet on the sixth. 110–120 ml is the sweet spot that gives you enough liquor to share with two small cups or to savor solo across a half-hour of concentration. If you genuinely prefer larger sessions, we suggest brewing with a small teapot; if you want to taste the full arc of your favorite oolong, this volume is not a flaw—it’s the point.
The surface feels rough and gritty, almost unfinished. I expected smoothness.
Wood-fired naked porcelain is not glazed porcelain. Its finish is a live topography of ash and flame—what we call a “kinetic skin.” Some pieces carry a subtle texture you can feel with your fingertips; others are burnished glass-smooth, depending on where they sat in the kiln. If the texture is so aggressive that it irritates your skin or catches a cloth, we consider that a defect. Our finishing step hand-sands every rim and body to a touch-friendly tactility while preserving the natural fire marks. Specify your texture preference in the order notes, and we’ll match you with a piece that feels right in your hand.