Shanghai Ivory Carving

Shanghai Ivory Carving

　　The main types of Shanghai ivory carving include openwork fine flowers, leather carving, and round sculpture figures. Among them, openwork fine flower landscapes are the most distinctive, ranking alongside Beijing’s round and relief sculptures of figures, Guangzhou’s multi-layered ivory balls, and through-carved flower boats. The unique style of Shanghai’s openwork fine flower carvings took shape in the early 20th century. The themes depicted are rich and varied, the forms diverse, the compositions richly structured, and the images vivid with a strong painterly quality. The craftsmanship features clean and precise knife work, with exquisitely delicate artistry. Particularly notable is the openwork carving technique, which blends interior and exterior scenes seamlessly, full of regional characteristics of the Jiangnan area. Representative works include masterpieces such as “The White Snail Maiden,” “Clam Scene,” “Eighteen Arhats Battling the Roc,” “Song of the Pipa,” “Down the Great River,” “Spring Scene,” “Dragon Boat,” and “Jiangnan Scenery.”