Iris

Hand-Sculpted White Porcelain Floral Stud Earrings with Liquid Gold Petal Detailing

Chinese flower painting reached one of its most exacting expressions in the Song dynasty gongbi tradition—meticulous brushwork that rendered each petal with extraordinary attention to its curl, structure, and tonal change. The painter did not simply copy a flower, but rebuilt it stroke by stroke until precision felt alive.

Iris translates this painterly discipline into ceramic form. Each stud is built from white porcelain clay and sculpted into a multi-layered bloom. Four to five irregular petals overlap as a real flower unfolds from its center. No petal is mechanically symmetrical; each curves at a slightly different angle and catches the light in its own way. This is flower-making, not flower-copying.

Liquid gold is hand-traced along every petal edge, defining the boundary between layers as the fine ink outline does in gongbi painting. A small gold bead rests at the center where the stamens would be, drawing the eye inward. The luminous white porcelain serves as a quiet canvas while the gold annotates the form without overwhelming it.

Key Features

• Multi-layered floral sculpture — Four to five white porcelain petals hand-sculpted and arranged in overlapping tiers, each with its own curve and tilt
• Liquid gold petal tracing — Fine gold lines applied by hand along every petal edge to define the layered structure
• Gold bead center — A small gold bead marks the heart of each flower and creates a precise focal point
• White porcelain base — Smooth, luminous white porcelain recalls the silk and paper of traditional gongbi painting
• Intimate stud format — A compact design worn close to the ear, rewarding close attention rather than distant display

Materials & Specs

Technique Heritage

• Gongbi flower painting — Gongbi, literally “meticulous brush,” is one of the most precise traditions in Chinese painting. Its fine ink outlines define form before multiple translucent washes build depth. Iris adopts this philosophy through close attention to the individual character of every petal; the liquid gold edge becomes the ceramic equivalent of the gongbi outline.
• Overlapping petal construction — Each petal is shaped individually, thinned at the edge, positioned, and joined with slip before the clay dries. The layered structure must account for the 10–15% total shrinkage that can occur during drying and firing, requiring careful control of petal thickness and attachment points.
• Liquid gold detailing — After the glaze firing, liquid gold is applied with a fine brush in clean, continuous strokes. The piece is then fired again at approximately 700–800°C, burning away the organic carrier and bonding a metallic gold film to the glaze.

Care

• Avoid contact with perfume, lotion, bleach, ammonia, chlorine, abrasive cleaners, and other harsh chemicals
• Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth; for fingerprints on the gold, use a slightly damp cloth and dry immediately
• Do not soak or use an ultrasonic cleaner
• Check the butterfly or push backs regularly to ensure they remain secure
• Store each earring separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box so the layered petals do not catch on other jewelry
• Handle the thin petal tips with care; avoid dropping the earrings or pressing them against hard surfaces
• Avoid extreme thermal shock

Part of the TaoTianXia collection — entirely handcrafted in Jingdezhen, each piece one of a kind. Our ceramic artistry has been chosen for diplomatic gifting, trusted by over 70 Fortune Global 500 companies, and featured at New York's Grand Central Terminal.