Antique Yixing Jian Shui - Waste Water Bowl

Jian Shui, also known as Cha Yu or water bowls, are essential tools in both Gongfu tea ceremonies and the Japanese Tea Ceremony. These vessels are used to collect discarded tea leaves, excess water, and spent brews, helping to keep the tea-making process clean and organized. In Gongfu tea preparation, they play a particularly important role in managing waste while maintaining the flow of the ceremony.

Colour:  Brownish inside and red outside
Period: Early 20th century
Marks: Artist mark on the bottom: Shao Hanyun.

Carving: Carving of plum blossom and phrase on pot. Artist of carving on pot: Yunshi.

Size:  W: 12.1 cm, H: 6.1 cm,
Capacity:  500 ml (16.9 oz)
Density (least 1 - most 10): 7
Condition: In good antique condition with some minor imperfections. The opening inside has been repaired with Kintsugi urushi lacquer. 

Phrase on pot: 晚来天欲雪: Night falls, and the sky hints at snow. 

The full couplet of this phrase should be: 晚来天欲雪，能饮一杯无？

Which can be translated as: As evening comes and the sky threatens snow, would you join me for a cup of warm wine?

The poem expresses warmth, hospitality, and the longing for companionship on a cold, snowy evening. It is a famous invitation in Chinese poetry, conveying a deep sense of friendship and seasonal atmosphere.