Wenzhou Colored Stone Inlay

Wenzhou Colored Stone Inlay

Wenzhou Colored Stone Inlay is an intangible cultural heritage of Zhejiang Province.

　　Wenzhou Colored Stone Inlay is a craft that combines stone carving and wood carving. In the eighth year of the Guangxu reign (1882), Pan A'ming, an experienced artisan from Yongjia, began inlaying pieces of Qingtian colored stone onto rosewood and mahogany. Over time, artisans continuously innovated, expanding beyond mirror hangings and small screen artworks to include couplets, hanging screens, floor-standing screens, and cabinets. In the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920), these works were exported to the islands of Southeast Asia and were also displayed at the International Exposition in Tokyo, Japan. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, veteran artisans of the Wenzhou Art Carving Factory such as Wang Peizhen and Wu Zhende created the “Eight Great Inventors of Ancient China” in colored stone inlay, which was exhibited in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Jin Jirui created the “Joyful Longevity and Boundless Territory” (colored stone floor inlay screen), which was sent to the Asia-Pacific Region Expo in Singapore for exhibition. (Wenzhou)