Longquan celadon from Lishui, Zhejiang province, has gained widespread attention after being featured in the championship trophy at the finals of ZheBA, or the Zhejiang Provincial City Basketball League.

The trophy's gleaming plum green glaze not only symbolized sporting glory but also provided a major sales boost to cultural and creative celadon products ahead the Year of the Horse.

At the Spring Festival fair in Longquan, horse-themed ornaments and tea ware pendants are selling fast.

A small pendant designed by celadon artisan Jin Xin, rendered in classic green glaze, symbolizes success in both career and love. It has received over 9,000 pre-orders, generating more than 900,000 yuan ($130,403.87) in revenue.

The pendant designed by Jin Xin. [Photo provided by Jin Xin]

Xu Xing, a maker of Longquan celadon, which has been designated as an intangible cultural heritage, said his workshop is running at full capacity to meet rising demand.

Xu added that since the unveiling of the ZheBA trophy, inquiries have surged from across the country. Sales of Year of the Horse-related products have reached approximately 2 million yuan, with orders expected to continue climbing during the Spring Festival holiday.

The basketball event has also boosted sales of Longquan swords. A fridge magnet featuring a red sword carrying good luck charms designed by Zou Qi's team blends the chivalrous spirit of swords with festive blessings. Priced at 29 yuan, over 2,000 units have been sold.

The fridge magnet designed by Zou Qi's team. [Photo provided by Zou Qi]

An official from the Longquan celadon and sword industry bureau said the wide exposure from the sports tournament has opened new avenues for the millennia-old craft.