Chinese handicrafts, one of the best cultural products in the world,  is regarded as the treasure of Chinese traditional culture, which has won a unique good reputation at home and abroad for its long history and rich categories. The Chinese have created glorious handicrafts in this vast and boundless land. This article would like to introduce some great Chinese traditional handicrafts from more than 100 years ago, such as Jade Carving, Filigree Inlay, Lacquerware, Chinese Cloisonne, etc.

Jade Carving

Jade carving is one of the oldest Chinese carving varieties. As early as the late Neolithic period, the Chinese have jade tools. In Shang and Zhou dynasties, jade had become a religious and ritual jade utensils, as well as decorative pieces to worn. Jade has always been a treasure and it is treated as a symbol of better materials of nobility in ancient China.

The actual quality of jade is stone. Jade has large varieties, including white jade, topaz, jasper, jade and agate, turquoise, rose quartz, and so on. Processed jade is carved into exquisite handicrafts and known as jade carving. During the production, craftsmen carefully designed, repeatedly refined to create exquisite handicrafts to make the jade carving, according to the different colors and shapes of natural jade.

Jadeite Ring    Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)   Image Source: The Palace Museum

This jadeite ring has a 'Baohua Pure Gold' (Baohua zujin) seal mark on its inner side. In the late-Qing period (Qing dynasty, 1644–1911), its value increased, and luxurious jewelry was made with stone. The inner band is made of gold while the jadeite serves as the outer band. This cut of jadeite has an opulent, even hue of green. Nowadays, many casual observers neglect jadeite’s high degree of transparency as the brilliant green color exhausts their attention. This pleasing shade of green makes for an ideal piece of jewelry.

Jadeite Belt Hook with Chi-Dragon Design  Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)   Image Source: The Palace Museum

For our jade products, the "Peace and Happiness" series carves jade into auspicious elements such as Chinese characters for happiness and gourds, expressing the hope for a better life through jewelry.

Filigree Inlay

As an intangible cultural heritage, the art of filigree inlay, also known as "fine gold art", combines two craft skills. One is filigree, which includes such techniques as nipping, plaiting, jointing, piling, filling, and knitting, and uses gold or silver threads of different weights. The other, inlay work, involves mounting the stones to the final product and carving or filing the precious metals. The craftsperson can use either or both skills when creating. Filigree inlay art originated the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). At that time, it was called “Jin Yin Cuo,” which involved painting gold and silver on the surface of bronze artworks. With the development of techniques for making thin gold and silver thread around the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, filigree inlay art developed much more matual.

The Ming dynasty (1368-1644) was the golden age of filigree inlay art. Many masterpieces were created and inherited. Following the Ming dynasty, filigree inlay art reached its peak in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Qing was the last dynasty in China’s history. However, it was ruled by “Man” minority for over 260 years.

This pair of earrings is a replica of a Ming dynasty masterpiece. The earrings are 3-D replicas of lamps used in the Forbidden City. The lamps imitate pavilions with hexagonal profiles. Goldsmiths added seven spherical pendants to the pavilions. When the wearer moves, the pendants swing back and forth. Photo by Eric Welch/GIA.

Gold Bracelets with Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl  Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)   Image Source: The Palace Museum

Mannssi has also launched some products on Filigree Inlay. These earrings meet a perfect blend of Filigree Inlay craftsmanship and modern pearl elements, with a unique design that has both classic and contemporary styles. Palace Lantern Shape Pearl Tassel Dangle Earring, Inspired by palace lanterns, one of the traditional Han Chinese handicrafts with a complex process, they symbolize the reunion of the whole family and the prosperity of the business. These earrings feature a very eye-catching golden palace lantern shape with tassels and embellished with pearls, a combination of East and West that is stylish and elegant, making an instant difference.

Palace Lantern Shape Pearl Tassel Dangle Earrings

Chinese Cloisonne

Cloisonné, also known as "copper wire enamel", is a unique combination of porcelain and copper crafts, the history of manufacturing can be traced back to the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty. And during the Jingtai period (1450-1456) it was the most popular. Due to the fact that blue was widely used at that time, the name of Cloisonné blue came into existence. Cloisonné blue is made of purple copper as billet, made into various shapes, then pinched with gold or copper wire into various flowers, filled with enamel glaze, made by firing, polishing, gold plating, and other processes. Cloisonné is unique in shape, exquisite in production, solemn in pattern, rich in color, and brilliant in gold, with distinctive national characteristics, and is a traditional export craft of China.

This is an entirely imaginary recreation, loosely based on the Zhou [Chou] Dynasty inlaid bronzes of the 5th-4th centuries BC. A bronze vessel of this form was in the imperial collection in 1751 and was considered genuinely ancient. Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911) Source: Walters Art Museum

Round Saucer with Floral Design Period: Xuande reign (1426-1435), Ming dynasty (1368-1644)  Image Source: The Palace Museum

As one of the production processes of cloisonné, Enamel craft was also used in jewelry in ancient China. Mannssi's Enamel Series is made by pinching a pattern on the tire with silver filigree, then filling the pattern with transparent or translucent enamel, and firing it several times at a low temperature of about 500 to 600 degrees. The enamel pendant shape is more of a traditional Chinese peace lock style, signifying peace and health, while the pendant pattern has bright floral and animal elements, looking lively and stylish.

Enamel Series

This article is part of "Traditional Chinese Handicrafts" which introduces some handicraft culture from works existing for over 100 years. See the full series here. Chinese culture is brilliant and glamorous, and there are countless great crafts and collections waiting to be explored and appreciated by us. In the meantime, you can browse the Mannssi website to find the jewelry you like.