Zou Jianbin 邹建斌
Jian Zhan Artist • Shuiji, Jianyang • Dragon Kiln Wood Firing
Jian Zhan associated with Zou Jianbin together with his collector booklet.
Quick Facts
邹建斌
Zōu Jiànbīn
1984
Shuiji, Jianyang, Fujian
His father, Zou Liangwang 邹良旺
Began in 1998
7-meter Tongtian kiln 通天窑
燚星龙窑
About Zou Jianbin
Zou Jianbin (邹建斌) was born in 1984 in Shuiji, Jianyang, Fujian Province,
the historic heartland of Jian ware production.
According to the biographical booklet accompanying his work, Zou was born
into a traditional family of Jian Zhan makers and was exposed to kiln work
and pottery production from childhood.
In 1998, he began formally studying under his father,
Zou Liangwang (邹良旺), at Qilipai (七里排) in Shuiji.
His training therefore represents a direct family transmission of
Jian Zhan production rather than a later entry into the craft.
Family Tradition
Zou Jianbin’s booklet describes his approach with the phrases
师承家族 (learning through the family tradition),
传承古法 (continuing ancient methods), and
追求本质 (pursuing the essential nature of the craft).
The Dragon Kiln
The booklet states that Zou Jianbin later established his own dragon kiln
in Houjing Village (后井村). It describes the kiln as a
seven-meter-long Tongtian kiln (通天窑).
Dragon kilns use their length, slope, flame movement, ash, temperature
differences and kiln atmosphere to create effects that can be difficult
to reproduce in electrically fired ware. This makes each firing highly
dependent upon both kiln control and the individual position of the piece.
For more background on this traditional firing structure, see our
Dragon Kiln reference page
.
Dragon-kiln imagery included in Zou Jianbin’s booklet.
燚星龙窑 — Yìxīng Dragon Kiln
The name 燚星龙窑 appears prominently on Zou Jianbin’s
presentation material and is also repeatedly associated with his work in
contemporary Chinese-language and Taiwanese collector-market listings.
The uncommon character 燚 is composed of four fire
radicals and conveys the idea of intense or abundant flame. Because
“Yixing” in English can easily be confused with the unrelated pottery
center 宜兴, the Chinese characters 燚星龙窑 are useful
when searching for Zou Jianbin’s work.
Collector booklet associated with Zou Jianbin and 燚星龙窑.
Traditional Glazes
Zou Jianbin’s booklet specifically identifies two traditional areas of
his production:
- 黑釉盏 — Black-glazed Jian Zhan
- 银毫 — Silver Hare’s-Fur
The term 银毫 refers to a silver-colored hare’s-fur
pattern created by elongated crystalline streaks in the glaze.
It should not be confused with a silver-mounted or silver-colored rim.
The booklet describes these black-glazed and silver hare’s-fur works as
representative of Zou Jianbin’s continuation of traditional Jian Zhan
production.
Named & Signature Works
耀眼星空
Dazzling Starry Sky
Identified in Zou Jianbin’s booklet as a work associated with
establishing his reputation.
兰杰之吻
The Kiss of Lanjie
A named work shown in the presentation material with a vivid
blue-toned crystalline surface.
冰玉牡丹
Ice Jade Peony
A blue crystalline glaze highlighted in the booklet and still
encountered under Zou Jianbin’s name in the contemporary market.
Examples of Contemporary Work
Contemporary examples attributed to Zou Jianbin show the wide range of
crystalline and kiln-transformed surfaces associated with his Jian Zhan.
His work can display dramatic changes in color, metallic sheen, spotting,
radiating streaks and areas of contrasting glaze within a single bowl.
Contemporary work attributed to Zou Jianbin, showing a pale
gold-green center surrounded by dark crystalline radiating patterns.
Contemporary work attributed to Zou Jianbin, with a warm
copper-toned surface, crystalline spotting and radiating glaze effects.
《兰杰之吻》 — The Kiss of Lanjie
《冰玉牡丹》 — Ice Jade Peony
斌星兰杰 and Collector Identification
Another name collectors may encounter in connection with Zou Jianbin is
斌星兰杰 (traditional characters:
斌星蘭杰).
Contemporary listings identify examples as having a
斌星兰杰底款, literally a “Binxing Lanjie base mark,”
and other listings describe Zou Jianbin pieces as
斌星兰杰通天龙窑柴烧.
Because terminology used by resellers is not always standardized,
Fifty Shades of Clay treats 斌星兰杰 as a documented
mark or workshop association seen with Zou Jianbin’s work rather than
assuming that every authentic piece must carry the same mark.
Collector Identification
Artist:
邹建斌
Associated kiln:
燚星龙窑
Associated mark / workshop wording:
斌星兰杰 / 斌星蘭杰
Marks should be considered together with the bowl, clay body,
foot construction, glaze, certificate, packaging and provenance.
A stamp by itself should not be treated as definitive authentication.
Contemporary Activity
Zou Jianbin’s name continues to appear in current Jian Zhan material.
Douyin-indexed posts from 2026 show him associated with on-site kiln
openings and dragon-kiln wood firing, including material using the
name 斌星兰杰.
Current collector-market listings likewise continue to associate
Zou Jianbin with 燚星龙窑柴烧 and
斌星兰杰通天龙窑柴烧, indicating that these names
remain in use around his wood-fired Jian Zhan.
Artist Booklet
Biography excerpt
The booklet records that Zou Jianbin was born in 1984 into a
traditional Jian Zhan-making family in Shuiji, Jianyang; began
apprenticing with his father Zou Liangwang in 1998; and later
established his own seven-meter Tongtian dragon kiln in Houjing
Village.
It further emphasizes family transmission, ancient methods and
traditional black-glazed and silver hare’s-fur Jian Zhan.
A Note About the $11.7 Million Jian Bowl
One page of Zou Jianbin’s booklet reproduces information about the famous
Southern Song dynasty “oil spot” Jian tea bowl sold by Christie’s in
New York in 2016 for US$11,701,000.
This historic bowl is included as background illustrating the importance
and value of historical Jian ware. It is not a work by Zou Jianbin.
Christie’s identifies the object as the Kuroda Family Yuteki Tenmoku,
dating to the Southern Song dynasty.
Booklet page combining Zou Jianbin’s work with historical Jian ware reference material.
The US$11.701 million bowl shown in the text is a Southern Song dynasty Jian bowl,
not a modern work by Zou Jianbin.
Materials & Production
Zou Jianbin’s booklet identifies his work as using an
iron-rich body (铁胎) and
natural mineral glaze (原矿釉).
These materials are characteristic of modern work seeking continuity
with the iron-rich bodies and mineral-based glazes historically
associated with Jian ware.
Collector Research Notes
-
銀毫 / 银毫 means silver hare’s-fur, not
“silver-rimmed black.” -
燚星龙窑 is associated with Zou Jianbin’s kiln
and wood-fired work. -
斌星兰杰 appears as a base-mark or workshop
association in multiple contemporary listings. -
Seller-created glaze names should not automatically be treated
as formal artist titles unless supported by studio material. -
No official representative-inheritor title is assigned on this
page unless supported by an appropriate government or heritage record.
References & Further Reading
Zou Jianbin Collector Booklet
Biographical booklet accompanying documented Zou Jianbin work.
Used for his birth year, family training, father Zou Liangwang,
1998 apprenticeship, Houjing Village kiln, traditional glaze
descriptions and named works.
Douyin — 2026 Kiln-Opening Material
Current indexed material connecting Zou Jianbin, 斌星兰杰,
kiln openings and dragon-kiln wood firing.
Yahoo Taiwan — Zou Jianbin / Dragon Kiln Listings
Contemporary collector-market examples associating Zou Jianbin
with 燚星龙窑 and 斌星兰杰通天龙窑 wood-fired Jian Zhan.
Shopee Taiwan — 斌星蘭杰 Base Mark
Secondary-market listing explicitly describing a Zou Jianbin
Jian Zhan as carrying a 斌星蘭杰底款.
Christie’s — 2016 Song Dynasty Jian Bowl
Christie’s official auction results confirming that the historic
oil-spot Jian bowl referenced in Zou Jianbin’s booklet sold for
US$11,701,000 in 2016 and dates to the Southern Song dynasty.
Research compiled for Fifty Shades of Clay from artist presentation
material, collector documentation, contemporary Chinese-language
sources and publicly indexed market examples.