Silver forging skills (Miao silver forging skills)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Silver forging technology (Miao silver forging technology)

Applicant: Jianhe County, Guizhou Province

Project No.: 390

Project No.: VIII - 40

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Guizhou Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Jianhe County, Guizhou Province

Protection unit: Jianhe County Cultural Center

Introduction to silver forging technology (Miao silver forging technology)

Applicant: Jianhe County, Guizhou Province

Silver forging is a unique folk handicraft of Miao nationality. Its style and structure have been carefully designed by craftsmen, and the craft level is very high.

The Miao silver ornaments, which are popular in Jianhe, usually use animal and plant patterns such as dragon, tiger, insect, flower and bird as the basic materials. With the combination of chain like flower twisting, flower carving, flower pressing and flower weaving, they are exquisite with aura. According to different shapes, Jianhe Miao silver ornaments can be divided into three areas: the collar in Gedong area is chain shaped and twisted; the collar in Nanzhai area is plate ring; and the collar in Jiuyang area is horizontal plate head. Jianhe Miao silver has more than 30 processes, forming a complete set of manual processes, such as melting, casting, hammering, flower making, knitting, welding and washing. A set of silver ornaments is often welded by hundreds of silver flowers, but there can't be any trace of welding. According to different needs, the silver can be hammered into square strips, round strips, flakes, etc., which can be used for embossing, cutting, drawing, etc. Then, hundreds of kinds of silver flowers were made by weaving, chiseling, carving, washing and brightening, and silver hats, collars, chest locks, bracelets and other silver ornaments with rich patterns were made by welding.

Miao silver production technology has been handed down from generation to generation, carrying the Miao culture and tradition. Miao silver processing, family workshops to complete the manual operation. Silversmiths are not only experts in hammering and chiseling, but also experts in modeling and design. They are good at drawing inspiration from women's embroidery patterns, and according to traditional habits and aesthetic taste, they bring forth new ideas in detail and local depiction, so that each piece of silverware has its own characteristics.