Qilu Evening News Qilu One Point Reporter Jin Fumeiyu Li Zenghao
With the Year of the Tiger approaching, The inheritors of Tai'an Yuxiang silver jewelry, Zhang Keqing and Zhang Junwei, began a busy job, making various silver jewelry for customers at the market and at home. The combination of old and new techniques has produced unique jewelry that is loved by customers all over the country.
On January 11, at the Tai'an Liulang Tomb Collection, a flag embroidered with the words "China's Intangible Cultural Heritage - Taishan Old Silversmith" fluttered with the wind, and Zhang Keqing, who was a year old of flower armor, smelted, pounded, and calcined pieces of silver on the stall. At the same time, Zhang Junwei also made various "Fuhu" silver jewelry ordered by customers at home...
"Fu Hu" silver jewelry to welcome the New Year
Zhang Keqing has been engaged in silver jewelry production for more than 40 years and is the fourth generation of inheritors of handmade gold and silver jewelry by Yuxiang old silversmiths. "I usually do more traditional old objects, and this year I also made some tiger head rings that symbolize power. My son Zhang Junwei made more items related to Fuhu. ”
Zhang Junwei has been engaged in silver jewelry production for 15 years, and as the fifth generation of heirs, he has combined silver jewelry production with current popular elements to form a unique style. "Every year I make some related silver items according to different zodiac signs. This year is the Year of the Tiger, and I made some items that contain tiger elements, such as bookmarks, rings, pendants, etc. Zhang Junwei said that this year he also made a tiger head plating, the current work is in the province to participate in the exhibition, just the idea took a week to do, pure hand to do, each of the tiger's mane, details are carved out one by one, it took three or four days to complete the production.
Since ancient times, the Chinese people have a special affection for silver jewelry, and silver jewelry has become a must-have item for people during important festivals and life nodes. Approaching the Year of the Tiger, since January, Zhang Junwei has been working from 8:00 a.m. every day and has been busy non-stop until about 23:00 p.m. "Although I am busy, I will be very meticulous in the production and do my best to do my best."
Shouzheng innovation, integrated with modern elements
Zhang Junwei's large number of jewelry orders come from the popularity accumulated by the old Yuxiang brand in the local area, and now he is also expanding sales channels through the online platform. Zhang Junwei said: "If you want to develop the old craft, you must combine it with the new things now, do not forget the old craft, and do not rest on the basis of self-sufficiency. ”
In terms of inheriting and carrying forward the skills of silver jewelry, he has his own unique ideas, and the silver jewelry he is making now combines the elements of the current fashion. Engrave the popular font on the tiger head bookmark. He hopes that in this way, silver jewelry can be loved by more young people at present, so that the silver jewelry culture can be inherited and carried forward. It turns out that such jewelry is easier to sell.
Passed on from generation to generation, passing on the intangible cultural heritage
Zhang Junwei makes bookmarks, uses the best foot silver, and then composes the picture after hand-hammering into a silver plate, and then engraves after typing the line. After engraving, cleaning, polishing, calendering, a small bookmark also takes eleven processes to make. "Although there are many jewelry on the market that are made of machinery, it cannot replace the old taste created by hand."
With the development of the times, silver in the craftsman's whimsy, but also gradually become a very personalized fashion jewelry, a hand-made exquisite silver jewelry often requires more than a dozen or even more than twenty processes, extremely cumbersome. To learn this skill, first of all, we must be able to bear hardships and stand hard work, Zhang Junwei remembered his father's advice, heard about it from an early age, and developed a strong interest in silver jewelry production. After hard practice, the production technique is even higher than that of his father Zhang Keqing. "Zhang Junwei's engraving pattern is more refined, and the technique is very good. His works have won many awards, and "Forging Silver Taishan Stone Dare" won the gold medal at the 9th Cross-Strait Taishan Stone Dangdang Cultural Festival and the 2nd China Taishan Arts and Crafts Exposition. ”
Zhang Junwei began to learn from his father after graduating from junior high school, "As a representative project of Tai'an Municipal Intangible Cultural Heritage, I, as the fifth generation of inheritors, feel that I have the responsibility and obligation to pass on this old craft." In the future, I will also pass on this craft to my children, and I cannot let this craft be lost. ”
Near the New Year, all kinds of silver jewelry are waiting for Zhang Keqing, Zhang Junwei father and son to make, although the same work is repeated every day, but they do not feel bored. Zhang Junwei said that as long as this old craft is liked, he has full motivation to do better. "In the new year, I hope that these old crafts, which are getting better and better every year, can continue to be alive and well." Next, I will also make more tiger-related items to congratulate the Year of the Tiger. ”