At Haimen Codion Football Club, an intergenerational exchange recently took place when octogenarian porcelain master Gu Pingsheng gifted handcrafted treasures to the players during the Jiangsu Football City League, known as Suchao.

The 88-year-old founder of Nantong-style porcelain art personally handed his handcrafted cups to players after their sixth round, symbolically connecting China's intangible cultural heritage with modern sports culture.

Each cup embodies a small world of artistic devotion — displaying the player's name in Gu's unique calligraphy alongside inspiring verses. The simple yet refined design features detailed textures and a soft sheen, capturing the unique charm of Nantong porcelain craftsmanship.

Nantong-style porcelain, a rising influence in Chinese folk art, exemplifies Gu Pingsheng's lifelong commitment to blending traditional ceramics, calligraphy, and ink painting. Each piece demonstrates expert craftsmanship, employing innovative techniques, scientific kiln-firing processes, and hand-etched designs.

When presenting the collection to Li Taizhen, founder of Haimen Codion Football Club, Gu said: "Soccer is full of passion and vitality, representing teamwork and perseverance. With these cups, I aim to convey the beauty of traditional culture to our young athletes and hope they continue to succeed in future matches."

The 88-year-old founder of Nantong-style porcelain art delivers his handcrafted ceramic cups to players of Suchao Nantong team. [Photo/Nantong Daily]