Refers to the ivory carving ivory carving materials and finished products, it is an ancient traditional art, but also a folk arts and crafts. Elephant ivory is the strongest part of the body, its smooth as jade, durable, precious gem stone exploration and comparable, so there ivory "organic gems" reputation. Ivory sculptures, to a solid fine, color soft and smooth texture, exquisite carving art, collectors much cherished, become one of the antiques in unique varieties.

Generally, ivory carving art into people, animals, flowers and landscapes four species. In which the main theme from the ancient ivory figure of mythology and historical figures. Can be divided into ladies, Rohan, the Buddha who swordsman and historical figures such as from the categories. Figure drawings general approach to line drawing, showing the characters facial expressions, body posture, clothing and other shapes, there are also focused on provenance characterization of identity characteristics of the characters, in order to achieve the perfect artistic effect. Ivory flowers generally flowers mainly to birds, butterflies, dragonflies, frogs, etc. as a foil, carved figurative peony, rose, chrysanthemum, magnolia, Tau, pine, bamboo, plum, etc., the carrier element there are flowers, a vase on the overall shape, bamboo, folding, rockeries, played a leading role and the role of foil body good match. Ivory animal themes Tigers mainly forest, ravine Roar, rooster crowing, diving Hechi, etc., which occupies a certain position in ivory Zodiac art. Ivory landscape theme in the general performance of the landscape, islands and the sun and the moon situation. Craggy rocks, mottled Haiyan, rolling clouds are changing artists particularly like ivory brandished figurative.

Historical development ivory

Chinese ivory carving has an extremely long history, it began in the Neolithic Age. As early as the Paleolithic, lived in Zhoukoudian Upper Cave Man, with regard to ivory carvings for decoration and burial. "Records of neutrino family" has written: "Zhou began to like the hairpin." Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing emperors regarded as a royal ivory offerings, plant orchards Office was the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty have to Palace do workshops ivory products, which are most representative of ivory masterpiece "Moon Man Qing swim." Chinese ivory carving after several thousands of years of development, the mid-Qing Dynasty gradually formed several relatively centralized production center, the main Guangzhou, Suzhou, Beijing as the representative.

Between the various production centers in both the subject matter and form unique style maintained throughout, while mutual penetration, technically there is exchange. After the 1970s, with convenient traffic, to develop the information technology, local artists ivory frequent exchanges, learn skills, learn from each other, where ivory color of each region, on the one hand increasing, formed in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing 4 major regions, there are other Tianjin, Fuzhou, Yueqing and other places, on the other style between them gradually desalination, which is an inevitable trend. Fine neat, exquisitely carved ivory Guangzhou in Guangzhou as the representative, hence the term Guangzhou ivory carving, Beijing ivory palace has a graceful art of character. Since the 1980s, for the protection of consideration elephant populations, including China, it was once banned international ivory trade. This makes it totally dependent on imported raw materials ivory ivory carving of Beijing into a situation without straw of. Beijing ivory carving faced with a dilemma no raw materials, nor the young inheritors. Later, on the issue of saving endangered species, the international community began to abandon the inflexible way trade ban, allowing the trade of ivory stocks. Thus, the supply of raw ivory has emerged chance of survival. However, from a financial point of view or whether it is from a human, Beijing ivory carving have entered the verge of extinction. In China after June 1, 1990 to stop importing ivory from Africa, in 1991, a total ban on international trade in ivory and its products, any commercial imports of ivory shall be not approved. Led to the collection of ivory in the case of rising raw ivory ban, ivory carving is prohibited swan song in the increasing appreciation. Ivory and bamboo carving, wood carving and said the three categories of traditional carving process. Ivory solid fine, color soft and smooth texture, has always been highly regarded as white gold and connoisseurs cherish.

With the ban on ivory trade, coupled with raw ivory of an emergency, the number of ivory handicrafts are also sold fewer and fewer, as the market consumption, survive in the world of fine ivory will become increasingly rare. Therefore, a period of time, the price of ivory has rocketed 100%, ivory works of art by collectors in hot pursuit.

Ivory carving techniques style

Ivory sculptures diverse, carvings, bas-relief, high relief, Carved, is generally used in the ivory carving. Carvings, generally use the whole material ivory carving, engraving established shaped body. This expression means those who have carved requires consummate skill and rich imagination and creativity. Some general Zhuoan ornaments and statues character class using this expression.

Qing Dynasty carvings character, style somewhat cumbersome, has been paying more attention to folds of characterization, adds texture. Ivory "by holding Goddess of Mercy", hand scrolls, close their eyes and sit, that describe meter range reflects the clean and dignified Goddess of Mercy, compassion morality. Seated is small, but with particular emphasis on the statue carved drapery, lines increased significantly, but less impressive blade smooth, rich, very different and ivory figure of the Ming Dynasty style. Embossed, three-dimensional surface level of the engraving method, a clear hierarchy and the front half in the shape of a stereoscopic effect on a flat plate. Relief is wide-ranging applications in the form of shape, bas-relief and high relief points. Bas-relief sculpture is male pattern but higher than the high relief embossed thin engraving, carving belongs plane, but with a clear sense of hierarchy, most ivory This method can have. High relief, and the plane is between Yuandiao carving, it is in the form of a semi-perspective view of the sculpture, a strong sense of space. The fishing Qiao FIG ivory pen, a method for high relief landscape, fishing Qiao, Shepherd, shaped in the form of a perspective above the plane of the screen, the relief effect is very prominent.

Loudiao generally integrated use of pull engrave, engraved technique before implementation. Song Loudiao techniques have been adapted for the ball carved ivory, ivory balls called as "ghost workers ball", ivory ball Qianlong period has grown to thirteen the Loudiao. Loudiao process is extremely complex, requiring the artist has a superb technology and quality to complete. Ivory ball production step: opening the first material by Sawyer, sewing several layers of times the vehicle into spheres, and then into inside and outside the vehicle rotatably by carving the "board" of the outermost layer of the ball tooth carving patterns, chisel workers in the layer-layer fine hewn various patterns, and finally turn bright mill, ball transposon coupled with teeth, into finished. Tooth ball process in the Qing Dynasty as a great development, this art originated in Guangzhou, Guangzhou ivory carving in a common practice. To the Qing Dynasty, pierced carving not only for the processing and production of ivory balls, also widely used in other decorative ivory ornaments. Meanwhile, combined with the use Loudiao with relief, into small pieces of carved objects Qing characteristics.

The main schools of ivory

Chinese ivory carving in the development of several thousands of years the spreading process, have formed a number of relatively centralized production center ground. Qing Dynasty, mainly in Guangzhou, Suzhou, Beijing as the representative, both between the various centers of production to exchange technology, unique style maintained throughout the theme and form, while running into each other.

Guangzhou ivory

Guangzhou ivory carving craft has a long history, rich decorative, renowned for their fine neat, exquisitely carved and famous. After the Qing Kangxi Hai ban, Guangzhou became the only foreign trade port, this unique position, making Southeast Asia, the massive importation of ivory Guangzhou, provides ample raw materials ivory craft. Since then, Guangzhou ivory carving process far more than other places, becoming the highest in the country, and form their own style characteristics, different from the artistic style of Suzhou, Beijing, Yangzhou, Hangzhou and other places, and ivory craft had an impact elsewhere .

Guangdong ivory, also known as the Southern Pine ivory, making emphasis on carving, and pay attention to teeth bleaching and color decoration materials, works mostly shiny jade, fine carved Lou known for fine, exquisitely delicate, gorgeous appearance. By craft techniques, there Guangzhou ivory carving, mosaic, weaving three categories. Use more incised carving, hidden from, from the sudden, Loudiao, had been masters Loudiao, mainly in Guangzhou unique climatic conditions are inextricably linked. Guangzhou warm and humid climate, ivory is not easy to rattle, suitable for production drilling engrave, engraved works, plus the original level of technology, Loudiao becoming the most unique skill Guangzhou ivory carving process. There are varieties of ivory balls, boats, people, pen holder, table plaque, birds and animals enjoy the goods, chopsticks, combs, stamps, snuff bottles, bottles, cigarette holder, lamps, compact and other daily necessities. Groups with the most famous ivory ball. Ivory with a variety of other materials such as sandalwood, rhinoceros horn, tortoiseshell, etc. Cuiyu cleverly embedded in a device on the richer three-dimensional pattern, to increase the level pattern is a significant feature of the process of Guangzhou ivory. In order to fit the needs of export, Guangzhou ivory style realism trend, and absorbed the strengths of a large leaf, flower and other foreign realistic pattern, again connecting member dyeing, spiral features.