Yangzhou Lacquer Ware

The production of Yangzhou lacquer ware enjoys a long history. More than two thousand years ago, in the Han Dynasty, Yangzhou lacquer ware was famous both at home and abroad. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the craft of Yangzhou Lacquer ware was very subtle, more and more products were embedded with metal. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Yangzhou lacquer ware reached its culmination. Besides colored drawings and carved lacquer ware, other crafts such as shell-inlaid flower pattern, embedded bone, stone, and jewel were also improved. The traditional Yangzhou lacquer ware made with some eight hundred precious materials such as jadeite, agate, coral, green jade, white jade, trunk, padauk, mica, green snail, silver, gold and so on, on the basis of delicate paint. In the decorative patterns on the lacquer ware, there are a lot of calligraphy and drawings of “the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou”, which greatly enhance the artistic value of Yangzhou lacquer ware.

Lacquer ware are important tributes of the salt administration of the Huai River valley. According to the document of the Qing imperial palace in 1750, 1771 and 1789, the salt administration of the Huai River valley presented to the rulers of the Qing Dynasty various kinds of lacquer wares such as sandlewood lacquer ware, shell-inlaid flower pattern, carved color, colorful paint, filling paint, foreign paint, and golden drawing. The utensils include royal long narrow table, throne, bed, wardrobe, tea table, screen, box, fan, trunk, bowl, dish, objects of every conceivable kind. The inner material includes sandlewood, pear wood, rosewood, and Chinese littleleaf box.

After the Opium War, the craftsmanship of the Yangzhou lacquer ware was on the decline. Some precious lacquer wares became lost. In between the Tongzhi and Guangxu period, the production of lacquer ware increased a little. The major ones were carved lacquer ware, shell-inlaid flower pattern, so on and so forth. The small products included box of invitations, flowerpot, stationery, and so on. The shallow carving was very popular for some time, the most typical products including brush pot, hat container, box of ink stone. Deeply carved hanging screen often has the theme of “the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou”, using flower-patterned ornament made of gold foil or died and washed with ink. This kind od products were made to appear old by smoke. Most of them were on sale in the domestic market.

Yangzhou lacquer ware has developed considerably ever since the founding of the PRC. In 1953, the Cultural Ministry and China Artists Association bought lacquer wares from the original workshops such as Liang Fusheng, Liang Defu, Qian Zhongchun, Sun Zhucheng. These arts and crafts were presented to the First Exhibition of Folk Arts and Crafts in Jiangsu Province , the demonstration of folk arts and crafts in East China , and the National Exhibition of Folk Arts and Crafts. From these exhibitions, Yangzhou lacquer ware became known again.

Yangzhou lacquer ware is rich in sort, delicate in skill, manifold in color, and antique in shape. It can be both appreciated and utilized and has vivid local tastes. According to the shape and use of Yangzhou lacquer ware, they can be divided into three major kinds: screen, furniture, and others. The first two kinds take a large proportion, accounting for more than 80% of the total output of Yangzhou lacquer ware. According to the decorative arts, they can be divided into ten major kinds. The quality of carving lacquer ware embedded with jade, shell-inlaid flower pattern, and dotted shell are among the best and are thus world-famous. These are many top-quality products in Yangzhou lacquer wares. And they have been awarded great honors both home and abroad. They have been chosen to be the national gifts when the leaders of our country pay a visit overseas.

Decorative lacquer painting: Person

Decorative lacquer painting: Sunrise

Decorative lacquer painting: Person

Lacquer ware embedded with jade: Longevity

Lacquer ware embedded with jade: Dawn

Lacquer ware embedded with jade: Vase

Lacquer ware embedded with jade: Ages of Splendor and Beauty

The Yangtze Bridge of Nanjing

Lacquer ware embedded with jade: Flowers and Birds of the Four Seasons

Colorful painting: Emerald Birds Welcoming the Springs