The craft characteristics of Qingdao shell carvings

Qingdao shell carvings use rare shells as raw materials, and skillfully use their natural color and texture shape to carefully carve them into craft products in various forms and specifications such as flat, semi-relief, inlay, and three-dimensional. There are nearly a thousand designs and varieties in seven series. Huge murals and large screens suitable for decoration in large hotels, conference halls and other halls are rich in artistic charm and can highlight the elegance and rich cultural atmosphere of the hall; shell carving travel series souvenirs, jewelry, three-dimensional ornaments, small landscape paintings, etc. It is easy to carry, can be used as a travel souvenir, or as a gift to relatives and friends, and is deeply loved by tourists. The large three-dimensional ornament "Dragon Boat" is based on my country's traditional folk auspicious patterns. It uses rare large pearl oysters and luminous snails as raw materials, and is exquisitely carved using inlay, high relief and other techniques. The work is magnificent in shape and rigorous in structure, and the dragon body and pavilions display superb craftsmanship in every aspect. The work also contains the meaning of smooth sailing and a bright future, and is a treasure for the business community, auspiciousness for the house, and prosperity.

Qingdao shell carvings are famous both at home and abroad for their novel compositions, exquisite craftsmanship, brilliant colors and profound meanings. The key to making shell carvings is to apply techniques according to the materials. The so-called "materials" are the materials provided by nature, and the shapes are taken according to the situation, and then the finished products are made by stacking, stacking, joining, gluing and other methods. Folk artists use shells very skillfully: scarred shells are sawed into scarred tree trunks; shells with spiral patterns are cut into ladies' buns; Jiang Yao shells and silver shell shells are used to make leaves; The red color of conches and cone snails is used as maple leaves. Also, the grapes are made from the purple color of the shell’s inner layer, and the dress is expressed using the layers of texture of the scallop. When it really didn't work, I dyed it a transparent color. There are as many types of shell carvings as there are expression forms and compositions in Chinese painting. After being framed, the splendid and natural shell composition will never fade.

The production of shell carving handicrafts is relatively complicated. High-quality shell carving handicrafts are often framed, and some are equipped with bases, which have high artistic appreciation value. Shell carving often requires a lot of manpower and material resources. A shell carving that weighs only a few kilograms sometimes requires one or two tons of raw materials and takes two to three months of meticulous carving to complete. The steps for making shell carvings are as follows:

1. Design pattern. Design the pattern of the shell carving on the drawing.

2. Cutting and engraving. Carving and cutting of shell raw materials. This is the basic preparation stage for shell carving crafts.

3. Sticky. According to the design and the effect of the previous demonstration, it is glued in one time, usually using all-purpose glue.

4. Drilling. Due to the needs of the shape, the connection between the materials is often not strong enough by adhesion alone. Connectors (usually steel wires) are needed, and a drill bit with a suitable caliber is selected for drilling.

5. Polishing. The work needs to be polished and adjusted before and after gluing. The products of Qingdao Shell Carving Crafts Factory inherit and carry forward the traditional Chinese craftsmanship. They use rare shells as raw materials, combine the technical characteristics of jade, wood carving and mother-of-pearl inlays, and carefully carve them into flat, relief and three-dimensional paintings, jewelry and tourist souvenirs. Popular with guests. In particular, the large-scale three-dimensional pieces "Nine Dragon Wall", "Dragon Wind Aquarius", "Dragon Boat" and "Double-Sided Seat Screen with Pearl Inlay" developed are exquisite and have great appreciation and collection value. Craftsmen skillfully use the natural color and texture of shells to carefully carve a variety of handicrafts. They are famous both at home and abroad for their novel compositions, exquisite craftsmanship, brilliant colors, and profound meanings. Their exhibits are displayed in Zhongnanhai, the Great Hall of the People, and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall in Beijing. , Beijing International Airport, Asian Games Village and other places. The products have won the "Tianma" Gold Award issued by the National Tourism Administration and the Silver Cup Award (the highest award) of the "Hundred Flowers Award" for Chinese Craftsmanship. The products are exported to more than 40 countries and regions around the world. The products currently have seven series and nearly a thousand pieces of designs and colors, mainly including shell carving paintings, screens, etc. with themes of flowers and birds, figures, landscapes, and still lifes. The specifications are complete, the forms are diverse, and they are distinctively decorative and appreciative. They are suitable for Used in living rooms, conference halls and home and art decorations of various large hotels. There are also small picture screens, souvenirs, jewelry and three-dimensional ornaments that are easy to carry, all of which are deeply loved by guests at home and abroad. They are great gifts for relatives and friends, congratulations, and commemorations.