Guangdong ivory carving started from the
Han Dynasty and ivory carving products are found in the Tomb of Nanyue Kingdom.
Ivory carving became prosperous in Ming and Qing Dynasty such that Guangdong craftsmen were recruited to Beijing to serve the imperial family. Guangdong was
also a significant place for importing ivory from Africa and exporting the
ivory carving goods to the foreign countries. Hence, it was an important ivory
trade and production centre with lots of ivory tribute situated there.
Guangdong is a significance place for the development of ivory carving because of the humid climate in the Lingnan area. The theme of the carving also carries Lingnan features such as boat, fisherman, birds and flowers, lychees and pagoda. Besides, the decoration is very delicate with complicated procedure which is different from the northern ivory caving which is more simple and direct. Also, there is a mix of various cultures which cater different markets. For example, practical used for daily life could cater the local market such as chopsticks. As for the foreign trade, western elements or subjects that could showcase the Guangdong features are included such as business card holder. For the works that are made for the imperial family, more decoration with figures is put inside.
Woven work, carvings and inlaid design are the three main categories of ivory carving. Items could be mat, fan, openwork ball and boat miniature. The technique included is intaglio, relief, openwork, round sculpture or a combination of various techniques with dying method.
Reference
Guang Zhou DaXin Ivory Carving Factory. (2014, April). Retrieved from http://www.daxincarving.com/doce/
National Palace Museum. (2014, April). Retrieved from http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/
宋俊華、林斯瑜,〈嶺南人文圖說之三十五——廣州牙雕〉,《學術研究》,第11期(2006年)。
彭旖琨、盧海林,〈廣州牙雕:一件作品一個故事〉,《黃金時代(學生族)》,第2期(2012年)。
曾應楓,《廣州牙雕史話》,(廣州:廣東人民出版社,2008年)。
劉靜,〈清代宮中的廣州象牙雕刻〉,《故宮博物院院刊》,第3期(1986年)。
Guangdong is a significance place for the development of ivory carving because of the humid climate in the Lingnan area. The theme of the carving also carries Lingnan features such as boat, fisherman, birds and flowers, lychees and pagoda. Besides, the decoration is very delicate with complicated procedure which is different from the northern ivory caving which is more simple and direct. Also, there is a mix of various cultures which cater different markets. For example, practical used for daily life could cater the local market such as chopsticks. As for the foreign trade, western elements or subjects that could showcase the Guangdong features are included such as business card holder. For the works that are made for the imperial family, more decoration with figures is put inside.
Woven work, carvings and inlaid design are the three main categories of ivory carving. Items could be mat, fan, openwork ball and boat miniature. The technique included is intaglio, relief, openwork, round sculpture or a combination of various techniques with dying method.
Reference
Guang Zhou DaXin Ivory Carving Factory. (2014, April). Retrieved from http://www.daxincarving.com/doce/
National Palace Museum. (2014, April). Retrieved from http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/
宋俊華、林斯瑜,〈嶺南人文圖說之三十五——廣州牙雕〉,《學術研究》,第11期(2006年)。
彭旖琨、盧海林,〈廣州牙雕:一件作品一個故事〉,《黃金時代(學生族)》,第2期(2012年)。
曾應楓,《廣州牙雕史話》,(廣州:廣東人民出版社,2008年)。
劉靜,〈清代宮中的廣州象牙雕刻〉,《故宮博物院院刊》,第3期(1986年)。