Introduction
Gilded Glory: Chaozhou Woodcarving
8/11/2018 - 25/2/2019
Special Exhibition Gallery, Hong Kong Museum of History
Jointly presented by
Leisure & Cultural Services Department
Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province
Jointly organised by
Hong Kong Museum of History
Guangdong Museum
Chaozhou woodcarving is a well-known school of woodcarving in China. Displaying distinct regional features, the style was popular across ancient Chaozhou prefecture in Guangdong province. As lacquer and gold foil are often applied to Chaozhou woodcarving, it is also known as "gilt wood". Ingenious openwork carving techniques yield exquisite works of art which underscore the three-dimensional nature of carving, while creating a multi-dimensional space of overlapping layers that is akin to a drawing depicting intricate plots. Meanwhile, the meaningful folk motifs and patterns showcase the traditional lifestyle in Chaoshan region.
Through approximately 120 sets of exhibits from Guangdong Museum, the exhibition illustrates the practical usage, subject matters and artistic features of Chaozhou woodcarving, while giving the audience a taste of the customs and humanistic spirit of Chaoshan region. The exhibits include the large openwork crab cage created by Mr Gu Liuxi, an inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage of Chaozhou woodcarving. Other works of woodcarving, under various topics, are also used to introduce the customs and traditions of the Chaoshan community in Hong Kong.
The exhibition received the International and Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan Cooperation Finalist Award from the 16th (2018) National Top Ten Museum Exhibitions.
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Gilt wooden offering plates featuring female qilin with baby and doe with fawn carved in the round Qing dynasty |
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Small gilt wooden shrine featuring "biwu dingshuai" (awarding marshalship through martial arts contest) motif Qing dynasty |
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Gilt wooden divine sedan chair Qing dynasty |
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Gilt wooden confectionery stand featuring aquatic motif Qing dynasty |
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Gilt wooden birthday screen featuring Guo Ziyi's birthday celebration 6th year of Jiaqing's Reign in the Qing dynasty |
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Painted queti brackets featuring Tale of the lychee and mirror carved in relief Qing dynasty |
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Painted suiliangfang tie-beam featuring Madam She, the marshal carved in relief Qing dynasty |
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Gilt wooden transverse panel featuring Zhuan Zhu offers a fish in openwork Qing dynasty |
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Gilt wooden lobster and crab cage in openwork Modern |
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Gilt wooden beam cushion with plum blossoms and crab in openwork Qing dynasty |
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Gilt wooden shrine door featuring Guo Ziyi's birthday celebration in openwork Qing dynasty |
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Gilt wooden diamond-shaped food container featuring pigmented lacquer painting of Wine from Wang Maosheng Qing dynasty |
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Gilt wooden rectangular food container featuring lacquer painting of "Exile of Prince Chong'er of Jin" with fine lines traced by iron pen Qing dynasty |
