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Luodian

Luodian, also known as mother-of-pearl inlay, refers to the inlay arts using the finest seashells to create striking contrasts and richly colourful decoration on the surface of lacquerware, wood or metal.

The technological and artistic development of luodian matured during the Tang period (618-907), and reached its peak in the Ming (1368 - 1644) and the Qing (1644-1912) dynasties. In 2006, the luodian art, as part of the Yangzhou lacquerware decoration technique, was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item in China.

Revered by the ancient court and literati, the craft was also popular among the common folk and was widely used to decorate furniture and daily utensils. The production of Luodian involved highly intricate and elaborate procedures: various seashells’ colours were examined to select the finest pieces for each section.

The shell was then peeled into fine leaves and trimmed into varying shapes. Following the required designs, the artisan inlaid the treated materials into objects to form the decorative patterns.

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廣彩

Guangcai

Guangcai was a successful example of East-meets-West fusion and made a substantial contribution to cultural exchanges. It was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item in China in 2008.

百寶嵌

Baibaoqian

Baibaoqian, literally meaning “hundred-treasures inlay” in Chinese, refers to the intricate inlay work comprised of variegated semi-precious materials, such as jade, agate and pearls, on premium hardwood or on lacquer ware.

灰塑

Plaster Moulding

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紅樓夢

Dreams of the Red Chamber

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緙絲

Kesi

Kesi, also known as “cut silk”, is a traditional Chinese silk tapestry weaving technique. Kesi adopts a weaving method that passes through the warp and breaks the weft, which makes the work look like being carved and engraved.

描金

Gilt-Decoration

Lacquerware is craft with lacquer applied to the surface of the fetal bone, which is often wood, bamboo, copper or other materials. It is an ancient craftsmanship that is functional and decorative.