How Divine the Skills: The Ultimate Craftsmanship of Ingenious Carvings

The art of carving bears witness to not only a long history but also a variety of techniques, such as engraving, relief carving, openwork carving, and sculpting in the round. All have been used to decorate objects for daily life or display and appreciation. The materials also vary widely, including metal, jade, stone, wood, bamboo, ivory, bone, and horn, each of which can be carved. In terms of decorative subject matter, there are images related to auspicious symbols, historical allusions, and myths and legends. Combined with traditional forms and period styles, they express a rich and varied appearance. Actually, many of the carved objects from the former collection of the Qing court, including those of the scholar’s studio and pendants to be worn, had long transcended their original practical function to focus on choice materials, refined workmanship, and unique forms, thereby stressing instead the pursuit of refinement in life. Furthermore, artisans ingeniously conceived of and combined different art forms and techniques in carving based on the nature of materials, revealing the beauty of “seeking breadth and greatness but not overlooking exquisiteness and details” when the viewer appreciates these objects at leisure. Thus, these works often make viewer want to exclaim, "Oh, how divine the skills of all these craftsmen!"