Twelve Flower Goddesses Cup – May Herbaceous Peony – Wang Zhaojun 王昭君

MAY HERBACEOUS PEONY · WANG ZHAOJUN 王昭君

May welcomes the herbaceous peony — lush, graceful, and generous in bloom. Closely related in spirit to the celebrated peony, it carries a softer presence of its own, combining beauty and abundance with an enduring sense of strength.

Wang Zhaojun 王昭君 is remembered as one of the celebrated beauties of ancient China, but her story reaches far beyond appearance. Leaving the Han court to marry beyond its borders, she became associated with courage, dignity, and a journey that helped foster peace between different peoples.

Her story gives the herbaceous peony another dimension. Beauty may first draw the eye, but character is what remains — the courage to step into an unfamiliar world, the composure to carry responsibility with grace, and the inner strength to create harmony across distance.

In this sculptural Liuli cup and saucer, luminous herbaceous peony blossoms unfold through translucent layers of color. As light moves through the Liuli, the flower reveals different depths and tones, bringing together the gentle fullness of the blossom and the composed spirit associated with Wang Zhaojun.

More than a cup, it is a quiet tribute to beauty with purpose — graceful in presence, courageous in spirit, and strong without needing to be loud.

FOR DESIGNERS

A refined accent for tea rooms, reading corners, private studies, dining spaces, console tables, entry displays, display cabinetry, hospitality suites, hotel interiors, and curated gallery spaces. Its sculptural herbaceous peony form works especially well where natural or ambient light can reveal the depth and translucency of the Liuli.

The luminous floral palette brings an elegant focal point to an interior, pairing naturally with wood, stone, glass, and restrained neutral materials while allowing the sculptural floral form to hold its own presence within the space.

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. 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.

One mold. One piece.

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 blossoms.

Because of this process, small variations may appear from piece to piece. These are part of the character of the making, giving each finished work its own individual presence.

Perhaps it becomes part of a quiet morning tea, an afternoon coffee beside a favorite book, or simply a beautiful object catching the light as the day begins to soften.

Twelve months. Twelve flowers. Twelve women. Twelve stories to carry with us.

Hold a flower, remember a story.