Jingdezhen, China

Renjian Cixu

A carving blade becomes a pen for stories drawn from myth, knights and classical imagery.

THE STUDIO

Renjian Cixu is a Jingdezhen studio founded by a graduate of Jingdezhen Ceramic University. Its Chinese name, 刃间瓷叙, brings together blade, porcelain and narrative: a description of the maker’s approach to telling stories through a carved ceramic surface.

Medieval knights, classical mythology and epic subjects inform the studio’s imagery. Fine pale lines against dark grounds recall the density and atmosphere of old engravings. The work develops through sustained, detailed hand carving, with each mark contributing to the larger composition. Ceramic plates and related forms become objects for display and close looking, bringing narrative imagery into a material that can be held, placed and lived with.

THE PRACTICE

The studio works through hand forming and detailed carving. Closely worked lines build depth, rhythm and contrast across the ceramic surface. Rather than repeating an image mechanically, the maker develops each composition through the individual movements of the carving tool.

CARE

Hand wash gently when cleaning is needed. Do not scrub carved imagery with steel wool or stiff brushes. Protect fine lines and edges from abrasion, and take care to avoid knocks or falls during handling and display.

SELECTED WORKS