With the prevalence of modern jewelry techniques such as 3D printing, people with unique pursuits for jewelry are increasingly paying attention to traditional jewelry craftsmanship with full texture.

These traditional jewelry crafts have amazed thousands of years! It's a pity to lose it

It is unimaginable that without these techniques that have been passed down for thousands of years, the gold, silver, and precious jade with unique Chinese aesthetics would always have lost some ancient charm and fragrance.

In order to make jewelry a vivid work of art, generations of artisans have inherited and created a variety of jewelry craftsmanship for hundreds of years, either to enhance the brilliance of gemstones or to conceal metal pallets seamlessly.

These traditional jewelry crafts have amazed thousands of years! It's a pity to lose it

These techniques, some of which have been improved by jewelry craftsmen and applied to modern jewelry design, also make people feel impressive

Filigree inlay

These traditional jewelry crafts have amazed thousands of years! It's a pity to lose it

Filament inlay, also known as fine gold craftsmanship, has been the pinnacle of Chinese feudal court craftsmanship for over 2000 years and was rated as the top of the "Eight Wonders of Yanjing". At that time, it was mainly used for the production of royal jewelry.

These traditional jewelry crafts have amazed thousands of years! It's a pity to lose it

It originated from the craftsmanship of gold and silver inlay during the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period. In fact, it was already present in the gold and silver artifacts unearthed during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The unearthed cultural relics were all used by the royal family and reached the highest level by the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty.

In other words, a history of ancient Chinese royal jewelry is the evolutionary history of filigree inlay.

These traditional jewelry crafts have amazed thousands of years! It's a pity to lose it

Yanxi Introduction - Filigree Inlay

Filament inlay, although unrelated to flowers in form, is thousands of times more delicate and beautiful than flowers.

This process is extremely complex and cumbersome, drawing gold, silver, and copper into fine wires with rare materials. Traditional techniques such as pinching, filling, accumulating, welding, weaving, and stacking are used to present a rich and unique effect.

These traditional jewelry crafts have amazed thousands of years! It's a pity to lose it

Even the most basic raw silk needs to pass through four to fifty different diameter eyelets arranged from thick to thin on the drawing board (the smallest one is thinner than hair), from large to small, and cannot be skipped. Sometimes, it even requires more than ten times of drawing to obtain.

Nowadays, there are less than a thousand skilled craftsmen in China, all of whom are over half a century old, and even fewer giant silk craftsmen are over the ages. Every piece of silk inlay made by them is doubly precious.

During the peak period of filigree inlay, the golden silk winged crown of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty

Filigree inlay with various luxurious gemstones

A small piece of silk, from being used by the palace to the ceremony of the Red Wall Kingdom, walks in the clouds, never falling, exquisite and intricate, leaving behind in the light and shadow of thousands of years.

Enamel

Enamel, also known as "Buddha Lang", "Dharma Blue", "Cloisonne Blue", and also known as "artistic enamel", is a "multi color glaze" that can be attached to different materials (mostly gold and silver).

Enamel

This process involves mixing high-quality mineral materials in proportion to create a glaze, which is then colored onto the object through multiple roasting processes.

Not only can it prevent rust, but it also has colorful and beautiful colors, making it a great decoration for jewelry and utensils. It is still a favorite among designers today.

The colorful colors and elegant texture of enamel are no less than the luster and texture of gemstones.

Due to the brilliant color of enamel, it has been favored by jewelry designers, and many exquisite enamel jewelry have emerged. Against the backdrop of enamel, the brilliance of gemstones is even more dazzling.

Enamel color shines brightly, enduring thousands of years without fading or losing its luster.

According to different techniques, enamel can be divided into: painting enamel, filling enamel, wire cutting enamel, and cold enamel. Various complex and exquisite techniques, bold color matching, make people enchanted.

Such beautiful craftsmanship is not only loved by Chinese people, but since the Qing Dynasty, enamel has become one of the most beloved Chinese elements among foreigners.

1926 Vanke Yabao Art Exhibition Rose Makeup Box

Famous jewelry was one of the earliest people to use enamel elements.

In 1926, Van Cleopal had already started using enamel, and the exquisite makeup box had not yet been opened, but it had already made people feel the elegant charm of former users.

Gucci Enamel Jewelry

For many people, enamel has always been a noble and mysterious existence.

By relying solely on their appearance, they can become the favorite of collectors. Even after hundreds of years, the bright color of enamel watches will not fade, and time will never leave a mark on them, which is amazing.

Diancui

Diancui, an ancient craft in China, perfectly combines traditional Chinese metal craftsmanship with feather craftsmanship and is one of the important jewelry items in the Qing Dynasty.

In the previously popular "Biography of Ruyi", the concubines in the harem used headgear adorned with emerald dots, which were luxurious, beautiful, and composed, largely restoring the ancient and mysterious jewelry of emerald dots.

Ruyi Decoration - Diancui Jewelry

The preciousness of Diancui can be seen from the jewelry used by concubines. The higher the rank, the more Diancui jewelry used, and the more luxurious it becomes.

It holds such a high position not only because of its complex and difficult to master skills, but also because it borrows a very precious material - the feathers of a kingfisher.

Kingfisher

Kingfisher Feather

The "Cui" in Diancui refers to the feathers of a kingfisher.

Diancui "refers to using gold or gilded metal to create bases with different patterns, and then carefully inlaying the bright blue feathers on the back of the kingfisher to make various jewelry and artifacts.

Copper Plated Gold Dotted Cui Inlaid Pearl Stone Haitang Crane Pattern Head Flower

The development of Diancui craftsmanship reached its peak during the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. It was still popular from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, but gradually faded out of people's sight due to the outbreak of the Comprehensive Anti Japanese War.

The beauty of Diancui is born from the tears of the kingfisher. It is said that the feathers of Cuicui must be extracted from the living kingfisher to ensure that the colors are bright and gorgeous, never fading.

And a small Diancui golden hairpin may use the feathers of dozens or even hundreds of kingfishers.

Nowadays, as the kingfisher has become a nationally protected animal, it is difficult to see real jade jewelry, and the art of jade decoration is gradually being replaced by the burning blue craft. And the lost Diancui completes the continuation of the Kingfisher, perhaps this is a great beauty between heaven and earth.

Chisel carving

The history of carving, a traditional craft, is even longer than filigree craftsmanship.

This traditional technique began in the late Spring and Autumn period and was popular during the Warring States period. It was called "carving" in ancient times and has a history of over 3000 years.

What is carving?

Simply put, using a plain hammer, a small willow hammer, a sheep's horn stand, homemade glue, and various shapes of chisels, according to the design pattern, the ever-changing relief patterns are processed on metal.

Since ancient times, carving has added many highlights to jewelry and accessories with its unique artistic charm.

The different carving techniques make the patterns on ancient and modern gold and silver vessels rich and colorful, including traditional Chinese artistic forms such as peonies, chrysanthemums, eight immortals, dragons and phoenixes, and mountains and rivers. With the change of people's aesthetics, there are also design patterns full of Western classical style.

Chisel carving, although not as well-known as filigree inlay, is also a very challenging craft for craftsmen, as completing an exquisite carving work requires more than ten process steps.

In addition to having good skills, operators should also be able to create handy carving tools according to the needs of the processing object, make metal plates for the workpiece, adjust and fix special adhesive materials for the workpiece, prepare welding flux, and copy patterns.

An excellent carving craftsman needs to possess extremely high comprehensive qualities.

Not only does it require a foundation in painting and sculpture, but it also requires mastery of various professional techniques such as fitter, sheet metal, casting, welding, etc. It also requires a certain understanding and appreciation of traditional culture. After long-term research and polishing, a good work can be produced.

Exquisitely crafted and with unique craftsmanship, seemingly ordinary things have embarked on the path of art with a magnificent and beautiful shape.

The lines are soft and beautiful, straight, far and near, and dense, which can no longer be described by the word 'exquisite'. Its beauty and value have far exceeded its own value.