Research On The Current Situation Of Chisel Carving Technique In Heqing Area Of Yunnan And Its Application In Metal Jewelry Manufacturing

The chisel carving technique,originating in the Xia and Shang dynasties and flourishing in the Tang Dynasty,developed along with the processing techniques of jade ware and bone ware.It enjoys a long inheritance in our country.Till now,chisel carving techniques are frequently used in the production of utensils,and are rarely used in jewelry manufacturing.At present,most domestic jewelry chisel comes from private workshops and personal studios while rarely appears in brand jewelry stores in the market.Due to the needs of cultural customs,some ethnic minorities in the central and western regions of China still retain jewelry made with traditional chisel carving techniques.Accordingly,the local traditional engraving crafts and techniques are well preserved.The chisel carving craft in Heqing,Yunnan Province is characterized by its own decoration.It differs from the chisel carving crafts in other regions as follows: in the Miao ethnic group in Guizhou Province,the chisel carving is often combined with hollowing out;in the Shui ethnic group,the chisel carving is more likely to be used together with filigree inlay,and chisel carving is not frequently used;in the Bai ethnic group in Heqing area,chisel carving is frequently used;Tibetans prefer to use chisel carving in large quantities for decoration,and full carving can be seen in many utensils.Chisel carving refers to the surface treatment of metal on the basis of maintaining the quality of the metal,so it saves more raw materials.The larger chisel carving area can better present the decoration and expressiveness of the utensils to highlight the original texture and beauty of the metal.For modern jewelry design and manufacturing,chiseled jewelry is still in the middle and low-end market,which does not result from low level of chiseled jewelry manufacturing.Instead,chiseled jewelry requires highly difficult techniques and long period in the engraving process.However,pure chiseled jewelry is more monotonous and traditional compared with modern jewelry,hence it is difficult for most consumers to appreciate the beauty of chiseled jewelry without understanding the cultural background behind its chiseled patterns.Furthermore,few designers will consider how to combine chisel carving technique with modern jewelry design,accordingly it is difficult for chisel carving jewelry to achieve large-scale development under the current situation.The author believes that the development of chiseled jewelry should firstly be based on changing the shape of the jewelry with no limit to the shape of the device.For consumers,beautiful ornaments are what they want.For chisel carving decorations,small ornaments should be delicate and cumbersome,while large ornaments should be simple and elegant,and chisel carving techniques should be used flexibly in the engraving process.