Recently, the Winter Olympic mascots "Ice Pier" and "Snow Melting" have exploded, among which the ceramic version of "Ice Pier" has been sought after and loved by the audience due to its delicate and smooth appearance and bright colors.
The popularity of the ceramic version of the "ice pier" has also made its place of origin " the world's ceramic capital " - Fujian Dehua out of the circle, further heating up the "Dehua white porcelain" industry.
"Ice Pier" and "Snow Melting" (Photo by Guo Ji)
"On the sixth day of the Chinese New Year, workers gathered in Dehua for the New Year to come back to start production, but they still could not meet the demand." Zheng Pengfei, head of a ceramic company in Dehua, introduced that more than 200 workers have now taken up their posts. At present, Dehua Ceramics Enterprise, which is licensed to produce the mascot of the Winter Olympics, is stepping up production with full horsepower, improving production efficiency by optimizing processes and other means, and opening pre-sale channels to meet the consumer needs of the audience as much as possible.
The "ice pier" further promoted the development of the "Dehua white porcelain" industry. At the beginning of the new year, there were 160 industrial enterprises in Dehua County, and the survey showed that 128 of them started on February 10, with an operating rate of 80%, and it is expected that the operating rate will reach 100% on February 15. Overall, the operating rate of Dehua industrial enterprises this year has increased slightly compared with the same period last year, reflecting the characteristics of "late production stoppage and early start".
Workers coloring "ice piers" (photo by Zeng Fanji)
Dehua ceramics are known for their "white", and their porcelain carving skills are well-known in the world. As early as the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Dehua ceramics were an important export commodity of the "Maritime Silk Road"; Dehua white porcelain of the Ming Dynasty was introduced to Europe and was known as "Chinese White". In 2015, Dehua was awarded the title of the only "Ceramic Capital of the World" by the United Nations World Handicraft Council.
Dehua has formed a relatively complete ceramic industrial chain of specialized industrial clusters such as master art porcelain, export craft porcelain, and daily household porcelain; 70% of the county's ceramic products are exported to more than 190 countries and regions in the world, and the output value of ceramics in the county will exceed 45 billion yuan in 2021; "Dehua white porcelain" has become a "cultural business card" with exquisite, rich connotation and profound heritage, which is continuously transmitted from China to the world.
In recent years, Dehua has comprehensively used "scientific and technological elements" and "cultural elements" to empower the ceramic industry in both directions, and has made multi-directional efforts in design, material, process, and use, leading the innovation and change of ceramic art with creativity, and forming a development pattern in which traditional ceramic sculpture, Western craft ceramics, and daily ceramics go hand in hand.
The work report of Dehua County Government proposes that new steps will be taken in the future in transformation and upgrading; carry out special actions to promote innovation and application, implement the industry leader promotion plan and the growth project of small and medium-sized enterprises, enhance the Dehua Ceramic Art Resident Center, implement the brand promotion project, create a new model of "master IP + cultural creation, products and industries", and continue to expand the influence and reputation of "Dehua, the World Ceramic Capital". (Zhao Legend, Li Weipeng)
Source: Dehua County Rong Media Center