Twelve Flower Goddesses · Blossom Wine Collection · May Herbaceous Peony · Xue Tao 薛濤

May Herbaceous Peony · Xue Tao

May arrives with the herbaceous peony in bloom — fresh, graceful, and quietly full of life.

Among the remarkable women of the Tang dynasty, Xue Tao is remembered for her poetry, intelligence, and distinctive literary voice. In a world where women had far fewer opportunities to be recognized through letters, her words gave her a presence that has endured far beyond her own time.

That is what makes the herbaceous peony feel especially fitting for her.

Its beauty is soft, but never without character. Layer upon layer, the petals open with an effortless grace — delicate in appearance, yet full of life and presence. Like Xue Tao’s poetry, its beauty does not need to be loud to be remembered.

In this sculptural Liuli wine vessel, fresh green petals unfold beneath a luminous pale bloom, while a petite cup rises gently from the center. As light passes through the translucent Liuli, the flower shifts between soft white, tender green, and a quiet glow.

Pour in a little wine, and another mood begins.

A clear spirit keeps the flower light and crystalline. A pale golden wine brings warmth into the bloom. Different light, different pours, different evenings — each reveals another side of the piece.

Perhaps that is the pleasure of a quiet moment with poetry and wine.

Not everything beautiful needs an audience.

Sometimes a flower, a little wine, a few thoughtful words, and some time entirely your own are enough.

For poetry, for independence, and for the quiet confidence of having a voice of your own.

FOR DESIGNERS & INTERIOR STYLING

With its soft white and fresh green Liuli and sculptural herbaceous peony form, this piece brings a fresh, serene presence to residential, hospitality, and curated interior spaces. Its petite scale makes it especially suitable for a bar cart, dining setting, console, bedside table, bookshelf, reading space, hotel interior, hospitality suite, gallery setting, or decorative display.

Natural or ambient light passing through the translucent Liuli reveals subtle shifts of soft white, fresh green, and depth across the layered petals. Its restrained floral palette pairs naturally with wood, stone, glass, and neutral materials, allowing the piece to move gracefully between functional wine vessel and sculptural decorative object.

THE ART OF LIULI

Created through an intricate lost-wax casting process, each piece begins with its own mold. After the wax is removed and the Liuli undergoes high-temperature forming, the outer mold must be broken away before the piece can be carefully refined, ground, and polished.

One mold. One piece.

COLORS WITHIN THE LIULI

The colors are not painted onto the finished surface.

They are formed within the Liuli during the high-temperature process, becoming part of the material itself. As light passes through different colors and depths of Liuli, subtle variations in transparency and tone reveal the sculptural layers of the herbaceous peony petals.

When wine or a favorite spirit is poured into the petite cup, another layer of color enters the composition. A clear spirit preserves the flower’s light, crystalline character, while a pale golden wine can bring a gentle warmth and new depth to the soft white and fresh green Liuli.

Because of this process, small variations may appear from piece to piece. Subtle natural bubbles and gentle flowing patterns may also appear within the Liuli. These are characteristic of the making process and contribute to the individual character of each piece, rather than being considered defects.

A LITTLE RITUAL OF YOUR OWN

Pour a little wine. Let the light pass through the flower. Sit with a book, read a few lines of poetry, listen to music, share a quiet conversation, or simply enjoy a few unhurried minutes of your own.

The vessel may hold a drink, but the moment it creates can hold something more — a pause, a little beauty, and the quiet pleasure of having time and space entirely your own.

A blossom for the eyes. A little wine for the soul.