Silk inlaying technique

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Silk inlaying technique

Applicant: Tongzhou District, Beijing

Project No.: 908

Project No.: VIII - 125

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Beijing

Type: new item

Applicant: Tongzhou District, Beijing

Protection unit: Beijing Dongfang Yizhen filigree mosaic factory

Brief introduction of silk inlaying technology:

Applicant: Tongzhou District, Beijing

Filigree inlay is a traditional palace craft, which is mainly made of gold, silver and other materials through inlaying gems, pearls or weaving. Filigree inlay technology is complex, which can be roughly divided into eight techniques: pinch, fill, save, weld, pile, base, weave and weave. It has exquisite skills, beautiful shape and various patterns, and has traditional artistic characteristics. Filigree inlay products are generally divided into two categories: one is filigree, that is, gold and silver are drawn into filaments and made into handicrafts by stacking and weaving techniques; the other is inlay, that is, gold and silver thin pieces are hammered into utensils and then carved with patterns and inlaid with gems and pearls.

Silk inlay has a long history. It appeared as early as the spring and Autumn period, and reached a high level in the Ming Dynasty. After the Qing Dynasty, the silk inlay had a greater development, and the exquisite products constantly emerged, enjoying a good reputation at home and abroad. Beijing and Dachang Hui Autonomous County of Hebei Province are famous for their silk inlaying skills.

Beijing filigree inlay is good at weaving and piling, and it often uses the technique of jade decoration, that is, the blue-green feathers of Kingfisher are pasted on the gold and silver products to enhance the artistic effect. Most of the silk inlay craftsmen in old Beijing live in Tongzhou. Beijing silk inlay factory, established in 1958, is the main manufacturer of Beijing silk inlay crafts, and its products are mostly for export. At the end of 1980s, the export quantity of the factory decreased sharply, showing a declining situation. In 2002, Beijing silk inlay factory declared bankruptcy. Now, there is no successor in Beijing filigree inlaying technology, many unique skills have been lost, in urgent need of rescue.

The silk inlaying technique in Dachang Hui Autonomous County of Hebei Province had begun to appear in the Han Dynasty. During the Yongle period of Ming Dynasty, the capital of Ming Dynasty was moved to Beijing, and the goldsmiths from the western regions moved north with them, and settled in Dachang Hui inhabited area one after another. They brought traditional Persian patterns and handicrafts to a new level. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Dachang silk inlay developed rapidly, and its products were regarded as tribute by the imperial court. The whole production process includes design, blanking, tire making, drawing, marking, wire making, wire sticking, welding wire, pickling (strong acid), washing, stone selection, sticking, combination, gold plating, silver plating and other processes. The products have various shapes, rich patterns and excellent production, which have high artistic value. In the past, Dachang's filigree inlaying techniques were mostly taught by father and son, and later by apprentices. Ma Wenwen, the late master of carved stone inlay, once made silk inlaid crafts such as Potala Palace and the 12th Panchen golden seal with his disciples, which made him famous for a time.

In recent years, under the impact of the market economy, many silk craft factories closed down, leading to the loss of confidence and enthusiasm for traditional crafts. Silk inlay is in danger of being lost. It is an urgent task to explore, rescue and protect this precious traditional handicraft.