*Ivory Carving

73.*Ivory Carving

Nominating Unit: City of Guangzhou

Short for “Guangzhou Ivory Carving”, Guangzhou Ivory Carving stands for the ivory carving techniques and products made of ivory, with enchased ivory ball, flower boat and micro-engraved calligraphy and painting as its representatives. Guangdong Ivory Carving products are mainly divided into three categories: one is the product for appreciation including ivory ball, flower boat, crab pot, flower tower, vase, bird and animal, people, rock and mountain miniascapes etc; the second is the article of utility, including folding fan, lamp, ashtray, cigarette holder, pencil vase, puff box, seal, comb set, chopsticks, toothpick, bookmark, paper knife, Chinese chess etc; still another is adornment including bracelet, necklace, earring, finger ring, pin and so on.

Well-known for the enchasing and piercing techniques, Guangzhou Ivory Carving values carving techniques and has gradually formed a whole set of exquisite carving techniques during longtime production practice. Being particular about the bleaching and color matching of ivory material, its products are exquisitely carved, fine and delicate, appealing to both refined and popular tastes. What’s more, the ivory carving is characterized by its fine material and delicate enchasing techniques with a complicated overall layout that leaves no gap. The ivory carving and many other materials such as padauk, rhinoceros horn, the crust of the hawksbill turtle, cuiyu (the feather of the peacock) are skillfully embedded in one product which makes the pattern rich in layers. Meanwhile the cutting technique makes the product angular and gorgeous.(https://www.daowen.com)

With a long history, Guangzhou Ivory Carving has developed since the Qin and the Han Dynasties and has reached a historic peak for its techniques and production scale in the Ming and the Qing Dynasties. Ever since the Republican Period, its carving techniques have become increasingly exquisite, which differentiates it from ivory carving in other areas of China. With the production mode of handicraft workshop, Guangzhou Ivory Carving is mainly handed down from masters to disciples and from the older generations to younger generations of the family. The famous successors include Chen Zuzhang, Weng Zhao, Weng Rongbiao, Feng Shaoxia, Li Dingning etc.

Situated in the south gate of China, Guangzhou has a close economic and trade relationship with other areas overseas and the prospect of its handicraft market, which is of national characteristics, is rather bright. However, at present the disappearance of the family-run handicraft workshop from Guangzhou Ivory Carving industry and the great change of the master-apprentice relationship, along with the insensible lose or change of handicrafts, have exerted tremendous influence upon the development of this industry and the inheritance of the traditional techniques. It is in need of making plans to change the unfavorable situation as soon as possible.

In 2006, Ivory Carving was selected into the list of the first batch of state-level intangible cultural heritage.