Lacquerware Decoration Skill (Silver Inlaid Lacquering Skill of Weifang)

The lacquerware decoration skill (silver inlaid lacquering skill of Weifang) is a unique fabrication skill that uses precious rosewood, natural lacquer, and gold and silver threads to make exquisitely carved and gold/silver inlaid rosewood artifacts. During the Emperor Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty, Yao Xueqian, a copper jewelry craftsman, assisted epigrapher Chen Jieqi in repairing cultural relics and making bases and supporting frames for antiques. Having the chance to appreciate fine cultural relics of the past dynasties, he worked with framing craftsman Tian Yufan to draw on the gold and silver artifacts in the Han Dynasty, and deliberately invented a new skill of inlaying gold and silver threads in wooden articles. Thanks to the arduous efforts of inheritors in the following two centuries, the traditional handmade craftsmanship of silver inlaid rosewood artifacts of Weifang has been passed down and perfected. In 2011, the lacquerware decoration skill (silver inlaid lacquering skill of Weifang) was included in the third batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List.