Image from book page 337
Tiān'é Yān Gāng
When a swan lands, even ashtrays take flight.
Crafted by legendary Yixing master Gu Jingzhou, the Swan Ashtray is a whimsical masterpiece that transforms a humble everyday object into a piece of sculpture. The round bowl body sprouts gracefully curved wings on each side, sweeping upward as if the swan is mid-splash, while the head, neck, and tail feathers complete a perfectly balanced, lifelike form. It's the kind of piece that makes you forget it was ever meant to hold ash — it belongs in a display case.
Gu Jingzhou (1915–1996) is widely considered one of the greatest Yixing teapot artists of the 20th century — his works are so prized that even small pieces regularly fetch six figures at auction, and the Swan Ashtray showcases his rare ability to bring natural, animal forms to life in unglazed Zisha clay.
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Original Chinese Text 原文
顾景舟创作的“天鹅烟征”， 小巧雅致 ，圆形的钵体上左右分别翻出翅 羽,， 曲线自然上普，似正在振动拍水 ; 短圆尾羽沿翅羽未端自然上普 ，端庄 秀美 ; 头颈部与尾羽呼应，呈倒 $ 形 ; 硕大扁平嘴部紧贴胸前 ，好像在轻轻 梳理临水的羽毛 。 作品通体温凡流畅，用最简洁的方式 ，采用块面的结构 ，极富律动和 立体感，将一只天狼的造型生动地表现出来 。将此器供置于案几之上 ，既方 便实用，又赏心悦目 ,“一洗人间氛垢矣,清心乐志” 另一具天忽烟缸 册 届中