Leading Role | White Porcelain Zodiac Ram Pen Holder

One horn expressive, one lifelike: reason and feeling in one role.

Leading Role is the piece that gives Heinrich Wang’s A Matter of Character series its Chinese name. Its two horns are shaped two ways, one expressive and one lifelike, a sign of reason and feeling held in balance. Openings at the top hold pens or a sprig of flowers: white porcelain made to keep you company at your desk every day.

Regular price: $4,680.00 TWD
Regular price
Sale price: $4,680.00 TWD

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Contemporary White Porcelain Craft · Fired at 1300°C

Shipping / Returns | Gift Packaging | Porcelain Care | Custom Base

Designed by Taiwanese artist Heinrich Wang

Designed by contemporary white porcelain artist Heinrich Wang, each piece embodies Eastern philosophy and contemporary form.

Transforming life philosophy into functional art, conveying a Zen-inspired modern aesthetic.

Transparent-glazed pure white porcelain | Hand crafted

Crafted with a transparent glaze technique, revealing the pure beauty of porcelain’s natural white after firing.

Only human hands can convey their warmth — every NewChi Porcelain piece is handmade, embracing the challenges of fine porcelain craftsmanship.

Gift Box & All-Occasion Card

Perfect for important festivals, greetings to elders, corporate gifting, and art collections — conveying taste and blessings. If you would like a handwritten all-occasion card, please note your request in the remarks field at checkout.

For custom wooden or acrylic bases, please contact customer service.

5 work currently available

Why This Piece

The piece that named the series

The Chinese name of A Matter of Character comes from this piece. It carries the question at the heart of the series: how to play your own role well, at home, at work and in life.

One horn expressive, one lifelike

The two horns are shaped in contrasting styles, expressive and lifelike, so that reason and feeling live side by side in one work, each sparking the other.

Gentleness and resolve, together

By nature the goat is gentle, yet at the decisive moment it steps forward to meet a challenge horns first. Gentleness and resolve, together, are what a good role looks like.

A desk companion for every day

Both pen holder and bud vase, and compact in size, it keeps a blessing in view and in use through every working day.

Usage Scenarios

Promotions and new roles
For someone stepping into a new position or greater responsibility: a wish that they decide with clear reason, and never lose their warmth.
New ventures and new chapters
For someone starting a business, changing careers or launching a new project: with the ram’s horns-first stance toward every challenge, a wish for a steady path forward.
Retirement and tenure milestones
For a senior colleague or mentor completing an important term: thanks for many years of playing their role well.
For the study and office
On a desk, in an office or studio, holding pens or a single stem, it brings a little more ease to the working day.

設計細節｜Design Detail

The expressive side

The horn resolves into flowing planes and openings, close to abstract sculpture, leaving space for the viewer’s imagination.

The lifelike side

The horn curls layer upon layer with crisp texture, and the ram’s face is calm and focused.

A square, steady base

A square base holds the ram’s head firmly, giving the piece a composed presence on the desk. The openings at the top hold pens or serve as a small vase.

Product Detail

Design Concept

Leading Role takes the form of a single ram’s head, its two horns deliberately rendered in different hands: one expressive, its lines pared down like an abstract sculpture; the other lifelike, curling in clearly defined layers.

The two approaches stand for the rational left brain and the intuitive right brain, and they are where the whole A Matter of Character series begins. In Chinese, 角 means both “horn” and “role,” and playing any role well takes both reason and feeling.

Openings at the top let the piece hold pens and writing tools, or a sprig or two of flowers, adding a small landscape to the desk.

Occasions or Usage

At about 11 × 6.5 × 11.4 cm, Leading Role sits within easy reach on a desk.

It holds pens, or a few short stems of flowers. When using it as a vase, we recommend placing a small water container inside for easy cleaning.

Ideal For

For your own collection

For those born in the Year of the Goat, lovers of zodiac art, or anyone who wants a piece of white porcelain on the desk that carries both meaning and use.

As a thoughtful gift

For promotions, new appointments, retirements, new ventures and corporate gifts, and a fitting Year of the Goat gift for colleagues, managers and business partners.

For display

Compact in size, it suits a desk, office, bookshelf or studio, and can also serve as a small vase at home.

Dimension

Name: Leading Role (好角色)
Designer: Heinrich Wang 王俠軍
Series: A Matter of Character
Type: Porcelain zodiac ram pen holder and bud vase
Material: White porcelain
Dimensions: L 11 × W 6.5 × H 11.4 cm
Packaging: Gift box and carrier bag

寫意寫實　感性理性 — Expressive and lifelike, feeling and reason
右腦左腦　交相激盪 — Right brain and left, each sparking the other
多層角色　多重體驗 — Many roles, many lives lived
人生好戲　絕不缺席 — In life’s great play, always on stage

About the Artist | Heinrich Wang

Heinrich Wang, founder of NewChi Porcelain and Tittot, is one of Taiwan’s most representative contemporary artists in white porcelain and liuli glass. Renowned for infusing philosophy and poetry into object design, his works have been exhibited at the National Museum of History in Taiwan, the Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, and the Triennale di Milano, earning recognition from collectors worldwide. Every porcelain piece is personally overseen by Wang, offering an aesthetic choice that unites artistry, cultural depth, and practical function.

Discover More Heinrich's Design Note

What does Leading Role symbolize?

In Chinese, 角 means both “horn” and “role.” The piece’s two horns, one expressive and one lifelike, stand for reason and feeling in balance, encouraging each of us to play our own role well at home, at work and in life. This is also where the Chinese name of the A Matter of Character series comes from.

Besides holding pens, how else can I use Leading Role?

The openings at the top hold pens, or a sprig or two of flowers as a small vase. Left empty, it stands on its own as a complete white porcelain sculpture.

Who is Leading Role a good gift for?

Someone newly promoted, taking on a new role, starting a business or retiring, as well as colleagues, mentors and business partners born in the Year of the Goat. Compact and clear in meaning, it is a practical Year of the Goat blessing for the desk.

Gift Wrapping

Each NewChi Porcelain piece comes with an elegantly designed gift box.

From the moment it is opened, it conveys your thoughtfulness and refined taste.

Whether it’s a housewarming gift, a wedding present, or a gesture of appreciation for someone important, it expresses warmth and emotion beyond words.

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