DESIGN NAME: Yak Bone Ceramic Cup
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Cup
INSPIRATION: To capitalize on yak by-products in Qumarleb County and boost regional economic growth, the design team initiated the resourceful utilization of yak dung and crushed bones, previously considered useless waste. Yak dung was transformed into biofuel, while cow bones were intricately ground into bone meal for production material, thereby developing a yak bone ceramic portable cup infused with local culture elements. This initiative provides an additional income source for local residents and promotes regional heritage.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This portable cup series is crafted from yak bone sourced from the plateau, which shows a soft white texture with warm undertones different from traditional bone ceramic cups. The handles are designed after the horns of the unique sheep and yak found in the plateau, and infused with cultural elements. The symbolic meaning underlying these cups is to help local residents get rid of poverty.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: This bone ceramic tea set consists of an upper cup and lower pot, one-piece design, with small and compact features suitable for outdoor use. To use, remove the upper cup for cleaning, add tea leaves to the pot, add hot water for making tea, then pour the tea into the cup by holding the anti-scald grips on both sides. Wait for the tea to cool slightly before serving.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project was surveyed in Qumarleb County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province on July 2022. The production took place in Tangshan City, Hebei Province from August to December 2022, and the project was finalized in Lhasa City, Tibet Autonomous Region on January 2023. The exhibition will be held on June 2023 at the Digital Non-Heritage Cultural Heritage Exhibition of China (Shenzhen) Culture and Technology Week, and at the Human Non-Heritage Rhegong Art Conservation Deliverables Exhibition of China Arts and Crafts Museum on December 2023.
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The tea set is made from a mixture of crushed yak bone with porcelain clay and sintered at high temperatures. The production process includes molding, fine polishing, rounds of glazing and firings, and anti-scald grips inspired by argali and yak horns. The liquid gold finish confers unique cultural significance and identity to this product series.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: [Cup]
The diameter width is 7.0cm
Cup height 4.2cm
The capacity is about 100ml
[Pot]
Diameter width 8.0cm
The body height is 6.8cm
The volume is about:170ml
TAGS: Humane Care, Cup, Design, Eco-friendly, Yak Bone
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: Qumarlêb County is situated at the sources of Three Rivers, the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers, a crucial conservation area of China's north-south water system, and the entire region falls within the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve. Due to its ecological sensitivity, industrial and mining activities are less active in the region. Consequently, natural animal husbandry is carried out as the primary economic activity, putting this region under relative poverty.
CHALLENGE: Traditionally, bone china production relies on bone ash derived from pig bones or common cow bones as a primary material. The utilization of plateau ground yak bone as a raw material marks a pioneering trial in the bone ceramic industry. The distinct texture and chemical composition of yak bone, particularly differences in bone density and mineral content, have significant implications across the bone ceramic production.
ADDED DATE: 2024-03-26 07:12:34
TEAM MEMBERS (1) : Hu Anshu, Liu Yuhan, Li Shutong, Xiao YouHanFei, Shao Yun
IMAGE CREDITS: Chomo Yarlung Ltd, 2023.
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