User avatar
Feb 23rd, '13, 16:44
Posts: 714
Joined: Feb 12th, '13, 16:21
Location: South Bronx, NYC
Contact: futurebird

Gong fu tea pets, tea mascots, etc... spider feet?

by futurebird » Feb 23rd, '13, 16:44

I've been reading about tea pets or tea mascots.

There seem to be quite a few:

Spitting frogs - these are little frogs on top of a melon or rock that are first soaked in water then spit water when heater water is poured over them.

Image


three-legged frogs - Chan Chu is the "money toad" often he will change color. More info: http://www.anthropology.uci.edu/~wmmaur ... hanChu.htm

I wonder if the coin in its mouth is meant to move when water is poured over it?

Image


Playing dogs with a ball - when heated water is poured over them the ball spinns. I think these are "lion dogs" the same kind you see at new years parades.

Image


Pixiu - This is a creature that loves to eat gold, so it makes sense that often they will change color from brown to gold.

Image

Feet with spiders - This one has me very confused. What is the meaning of the spider feet? Is it some kind of pun? Is it related to "foot water" the name for go fu waste water?

Image


Seed pod? - I also cannot identify this one. Is it a seed pod? Will it moved when hot water is added?

Image

User avatar
Feb 23rd, '13, 18:28
Posts: 400
Joined: Jul 22nd, '09, 21:54
Scrolling: fixed

Re: Gong fu tea pets, tea mascots, etc... spider feet?

by TomVerlain » Feb 23rd, '13, 18:28

the last one is a lotus pod. Probably, the little seeds bob around

User avatar
Feb 23rd, '13, 19:34
Posts: 852
Joined: Mar 4th, '10, 22:07
Location: somewhere over the rainbow

Re: Gong fu tea pets, tea mascots, etc... spider feet?

by Poohblah » Feb 23rd, '13, 19:34


User avatar
Feb 24th, '13, 08:49
Posts: 82
Joined: Jan 3rd, '13, 08:01
Location: Singapore

Re: Gong fu tea pets, tea mascots, etc... spider feet?

by GARCH » Feb 24th, '13, 08:49

The words on the spider feet reads "Zhi Zu" meaning "Be Content" for the left feet and "Chang Le", "Always Happy" on the right feet. The 4 characters read together is a pretty common idiom in Chinese :D

User avatar
Feb 25th, '13, 08:49
Posts: 682
Joined: Mar 10th, '11, 08:17
Location: on top of a mountain.

Re: Gong fu tea pets, tea mascots, etc... spider feet?

by gasninja » Feb 25th, '13, 08:49

And for those of us that demand something tasteful and elegant that speaks to a certain degree sophistication in the owner there is always the classic
http://www.12got.com/product/1506439142 ... ts+tea+set :shock:

User avatar
Feb 25th, '13, 08:55
Posts: 709
Joined: Jan 5th, '13, 09:10

Re: Gong fu tea pets, tea mascots, etc... spider feet?

by Teaism » Feb 25th, '13, 08:55

Haha nice and cute. They are seen quite often on the tea boat and showered with tea to be seasoned to a nice patina. :D

User avatar
Feb 25th, '13, 11:16
Posts: 749
Joined: May 2nd, '10, 02:03
Location: Shaker Heights, Ohio USA
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Gong fu tea pets, tea mascots, etc... spider feet?

by BioHorn » Feb 25th, '13, 11:16

gasninja wrote:And for those of us that demand something tasteful and elegant that speaks to a certain degree sophistication in the owner there is always the classic
http://www.12got.com/product/1506439142 ... ts+tea+set :shock:
Chua threw one of these in with an order a year or so ago. It has incredible range. Probably threw a fine mist 4-5 feet!

+ Post Reply