鶯歌茶具游

My expectations of Yingge (鶯歌) were so high that when I walked through the shops, I was rather disappointed. Hyped as the largest centre for ceramic production in Taiwan with over 800 related businesses in operation, I had expected more. Instead, I found items manufactured for the tourists and souvenir-seekers, commercial retail bulk purchases, and many grossly overpriced items (don't start about putting a value on art). Still. Don't just walk along the Old Street '老街' and you can still come across gems. There were two brilliant shops we went into. That was great. It was enough for us to buy what we needed, but not what I wanted. 

There were many shops selling charming tea wares. But not quite beautiful enough. We might not find them in Singapore because there's just not much retail value for them here. But in Taiwan, it's standard. I hoped to find something gorgeous, items that would blow my mind. I expected to find heartachingly exquisite art, but I didn't. While the clay and workmanship were of a worthy grade, well-made and generally refined, the craftmanship wasn't exactly what I was looking for. (Not looking at porcelain) It's either that, or my understanding of ceramics is so paltry that I don't know what I'm looking at, or what I'm touching.

I was hopeful that I might find a teapot to fall in love with. I didn't. I saw lots, I touched many. But none felt right in my hands. I found a couple of gaiwan (蓋碗) instead. I bought two (plain, with no painted designs) and no more. How many gaiwan do I need, seriously? I only wanted one teapot for oolongs. Couldn't find any. After this jaunt to Yingge, I'm absolutely certain that I'm no collector of teawares. Don't even care for matching teapots and cups or whatever. Everything matching would just be a tad grating, and so not me. I just want enough of practical items (that don't cost an arm and a leg) to brew a few types of tea for a couple of friends, and that'll be satisfaction.

Spot my black gaiwans? So friggin difficult to find plain black teawares. I LOVE BLACK.