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Whether it is the beauty of the changing season or the hustle pace of our hectic lifestyle that draws us back to the oriental arts of the Far East, we are simultaneously returning back to basics with a trusty pen in hand to record everything that happens along our way.
This week, Yi Cheng Trading listened to our collectors who demanded us to furnish their pen collection with a taste that is uniquely Asian. Thus we bring a collection of Jin Tai Lang Fountain pen from China.
Jin Tai Lang is a ancient art of painting on chinese pottery. During the Tang Dynasty, the chinese people realise that the beauty of a pottery can be enhanced by adding colours to it, fired heated to 900 degrees to enamel colors of blue, white or Brown. With that craftsman and artistes began by painting birds, animals on pottery. Soon this art spread to virtually all parts of the Chinese culture, from chopsticks to bowls, plates and even urinals.
The Jin Tai Lang decorative flowers found in vases and bowls are equivalent to the wonders granted to human artistry when we use our pens to scrawl thoughts and impressions along the page. Art, as with a fine pen, inspires mankind¡¯s creativity: just as Art moves with an array of artists, a fine pen encourages production of the written words. Whether it is chronicling moments shared with loved ones or a much needed reflections, a faithful pen can be found to record these important memories, feelings and revelations that might never be lost.
Cloisonne is a unique art form that originated in Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368). In the period titled 'Jingtai' during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the emperor who was very much interested in bronze-casting techniques, improved the color process, and created the bright blue that appealed to the Oriental aesthetic sense. After a processing breakthrough, most articles for his daily use were made of cloisonne; in time cloisonne became popular among the common people; their favorite called 'Jingtai Blue'.
During the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), cloisonne improved and reached its artistic summit. Colors were more delicate, filigrees more flexible and fluent, and scope was enlarged beyond the sacrifice-process wares into snuff bottles, folding screens, incense burners, tables, chairs, chopsticks, and bowls. |
Cloisonne manufacture is comprehensive and sophisticated, combining the techniques of making bronze and porcelain ware, as well as those of traditional painting and sculpture:
Model hammering: The process is to form copper pieces into various shapes with a hammer according to a design, joining them under high temperature.
Filigree welding: In filigree welding the artist pinches and curves copper filigree into delicate flower patterns, pasting them onto the copper molds. Possibly the most challenging step of the procedure, heating to 900 degrees centigrade, firms the metal.
Enamel filling: Through this interesting procedure, the cloisonne wears a colored wrap. Handicrafts specialists fill enamel glaze into lattices formed by fine-spun filigrees. Just one filling is not enough - the filigrees extrude, and the surface is dull. They have to fuse powdery glaze in the smelter at 800 degrees centigrade, then take the object out and repeat the process three or four times until its surface becomes smooth.
Surface polishing: Seeking smooth surfaces, artisans polish articles three times with grit or charcoal. The work requires extreme care.
Gilding: After acid pickling, fluid gold adds elegance and civility to a cloisonne piece.
Today cloisonne technique is associated with the sculpture of wood, jade, ivory and lacquer. Cloisonne art is exported to many countries as a favorite medium for ornaments. |
