Dai County Wooden Ware

Dai County Wooden Ware

　　Historically, the craft of wooden ware in Dai County had reached an exceptionally high level. The range of wooden products from Dai County is extensive, featuring novel designs and exquisite craftsmanship. The main items include chests, cabinets, tables, and chairs, which have been exhibited multiple times at the Canton Fair. The county’s wooden ware industry leads the province. Its "polished lacquer" wooden products are exported to Japan, France, the United States, and Hong Kong, where they are highly favored by foreign buyers. The polished lacquer wooden ware leads the province’s wooden ware industry. Polished lacquer wooden products are exported to Japan, France, the United States, and Hong Kong, where they are very popular with foreign merchants.

　　The production of wooden ware in Dai County places very strict technical requirements on craftsmanship, with meticulous material selection and complex procedures. The making of polished lacquer wooden ware involves eight steps: forming the rough shape, applying hemp cloth, scraping putty, painting, polishing and color drawing, varnishing, and copperwork. The designs are novel, the compositions are delicate, the content is rich, and the colors are vibrant. The painted patterns include not only traditional motifs such as ladies, the Eight Immortals, arhats, landscapes, flowers and birds, the Five Blessings and Four Joys, the Heavenly Official Granting Blessings, the Phoenix Facing the Sun, and dragons playing with pearls, but also distinctive local scenes like the features of the Yungang Grottoes and the Yang Family Generals. These designs are endlessly captivating.