Posts Tagged Craft
Chinese Cloisonné
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Arts & Crafts on July 29, 2009
As a kind of special craftwork of Beijing, Chinese Cloisonné is the most well known of all the varieties of Cloisonné and enamel making in the world.
Cloisonné was introduced to China during the Yuan Dynasty via the Silk Road. It became popularly known as “Blue of Jingtai” as blue enamel was the predominant color theme during the YuanDe period of the Ming Dynasty. The technique flourished during the Qing Dynasty.
The process of making Cloisonné is quite elaborated and complicated. It contains six steps:
1. Base Hammering. Artists form metal into desired shapes.
2. Soldering the Filigree Work. A pure silver wire usually about .010 x .040 inches in cross section is bent into shapes that define the colored areas.
3. Enamel-filling.The glass paste, or enamel, is colored with metallic oxide and painted into the contained areas of the design.
4. Enamel-firing. This is done by putting the article, with its enamel fillings, to the crucible.
5. Polishing. Whetstone and carbon are used for polishing to produce some luster on the surface of the article.
6. Gilding. The exposed metal filigree is electroplated with gold or silver to prevent oxidation from dulling the filigree. Then a final polish will be given to the article.
Ivory Carving
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Arts & Crafts on May 10, 2009
Ivory Carving, also known Ya Diao in Chinese, enjoys a long history dating back to prehistoric times. It developed during the slave society and feudal society and flourished in the Qing Dynasty.
In ancient China, the ivory carvings were regarded as the royal tribute. In modern times, they usually act as the gifts sent by Chinese government to foreign friends.
It was so exquisite and delicate that people will fall in love with it at the first sight. However, nowadays, with the shortage of tooth resources and young learners, it faces a decline and even loss.
Chinese Paper Cutting
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Arts & Crafts on May 8, 2009
Chinese Paper Cutting, also known as Jianzhi in Chinese, is a unique art form and has a long history. Originally, it was only popular among the nobility since paper was highly precious at that time. Later, the art spread among the commons and became a part of everyday life of Chinese.
Most paper-cut artists are women and their main tools are scissors. The themes of their works include almost everything in daily life. Paper-cut are chiefly used as decoration, especially for doors and windows, so sometimes they are also referred to Window Flower (known Chuang Hua in Chinese).
Nowadays, paper-cut can often be found in wedding ceremonies and festivals in China.
Chinese Jade
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Arts & Crafts on May 4, 2009
Jade has a long history in China which can date back to the early Neolithic period (about 5000 BC). In ancient China, it was associated with virtue, as Confucius said there are 11 De (virtue) in jade. It also symbolized grace and dignity. Only high officials can be buried with jade objects.
Chinese have been continuously creative in working jade throughout the history. Jade was used for personal adornment, such as jade rings, bracelets, pendants, etc. Jade was also made into sacrificial vessel, tools, utensils and many other items.
And there are lots of craftsmen with a high level of skill in Jade Carving. Carved objects were not only played indispensable roles in many aspects of Chinese life, but also the eternal symbols of ancient civilization.
Nut Carving
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Arts & Crafts on April 27, 2009
Nut carving, also known as Hediao in Chinese, is a kind of traditional folk art exclusively owned by China. The delicate carving skills on the small fruit stones or walnuts make the art form of high value.
Net carving has a long history in China and its earliest record dates back to Song Dynasty, more than a thousand years ago. It attained great achievements in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and at that time, it was quite popular to wear a piece of nut carving for the upper class.
Limited by the differences in texture, density, rigidity and flexibility for each piece of the raw material, there is no established rules to follow when the artists do the carving. The artist should have a blueprint in his mind before he starts and when he meets problems while carving, such as hidden holes, he has to reconsider his plan and make adjustment.
Nowadays, this traditional art form is still gaining much attention and artists today give it a new luster.
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