国礼之选景泰蓝：醉于一方蓝彩的百年传奇技艺

国礼之选景泰蓝：醉于一方蓝彩的百年传奇技艺

Chinese Cloisonné: A Centuries-old Legendary Handicraft

景泰蓝是我国的国粹

A national treasure of China, cloisonné

又称“铜胎掐丝珐琅”

is also called“copper padding thread weaving enamel”.

该技艺于明代景泰年间达到巅峰

This kind of enamelware reached its heyday in the Jingtai reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

所用珐琅釉又多以蓝色为主

and has blue as the typical color, 

故称之为“景泰蓝”

hence its Chinese name“Jingtai Blue”. 

北京是中国景泰蓝的发祥地，作为最具北京特色的传统手工艺品之一，景泰蓝与雕漆、玉器、象牙被称为北京工艺品的“四大名旦”，同时也被列为“燕京八绝”之一。

Beijing is the birthplace of Chinese cloisonné. As a traditional handicraft with distinctive Beijing flavor, cloisonné is dubbed as one of the“four most famous craftworks” in Beijing alongside lacquer carving, jade ware and ivory carving. It is also listed among the“eight wonders of Yanjing”. 

元明清时期的进阶

Evolution of Chinese Cloisonné during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties

元代

Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)

掐丝珐琅缠枝莲纹藏草瓶

元

A Tibetan-style cloisonné enamel vase decorated with lotus flowers and interwinding twigs

Yuan Dynasty 

元代的景泰蓝器形端庄大方，构图舒朗流畅，釉色明艳温润，具有宝石般的半透明光泽。但受工艺水平所限，砂眼较多，颜色也比较单一，主要以蓝色为主。存量稀少，弥足珍贵。

Cloisonné enamelware of the Yuan Dynasty featured elegant shape, fluent and graceful patterns, bright and brilliant glaze, and gemlike semitransparent luster. Due to relatively inferior crafting techniques at that time, however, it usually had air holes and lacks diverse colors, with blue as the mainstay. Only a few Yuan Dynasty cloisonné enamel objects have remained, making them very rare today. 

明代

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

景泰款掐丝珐琅八狮纹三环尊

明中期

A cloisonné enamel zun (wine vessel) with eight lion patterns and three rings in the style of the Jingtai reign

Mid-Ming Dynasty 

明景泰年间，景泰蓝的制作工艺已经达到相对成熟的阶段。整体典雅清丽，胎体多以黄铜铸造，器型多为香炉、花瓶、花熏、杯盏等，纹饰多为缠枝纹、莲瓣纹、折枝莲纹等。明代景泰蓝色彩较为单调，没有混合色，往往在一叶之内施有两三种釉色。釉料也有了新的突破，多以天蓝色釉、钻蓝色釉或宝石蓝色釉为底色，再用红、白、绿、黄等多彩釉色组成缠枝花卉等纹样。

During the Jingtai reign of the Ming Dynasty, the cloisonné techniques matured. Cloisonné enamelware of this period featured graceful and elegant appearance, with its body cast with copper. Common utensils included incense burners, vases, and cups, and typical decorative patterns included interwinding twigs, lotus petals, and lotus flowers with stems. The colors of cloisonné enamelware of the Ming Dynasty are simple. Usually, only two or three colors were applied in a single leaf. Breakthroughs were made in glaze pigments. Cloisonné enamelware of the period usually had azure, diamond blue, and sapphire as the ground color, and then used red, white, green, yellow and other colors to paint decorative motifs. 

清代

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

镶宝石九重春色图盆景

清乾隆，造办处造

A cloisonné enamel potted plant decorated with gemstones

Made by the Imperial Workshop during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty

清代的景泰蓝，在皇宫内廷拥有了专门的珐琅坊，清朝的工艺人在景泰蓝的制作过程中融入了鎏金装饰，使之更能象征皇室的尊贵。此外，釉料品种也更为丰富，增添了绿、白、黄的底色，并采用了更为多样的器物造型和纹样。

There was a cloisonné enamel workshop in the imperial palace during the Qing Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty, craftsmen introduced the gilding technique into cloisonné production to add a touch of royal dignity. In addition, glaze varieties were diversified. Green, white and yellow were also used as ground colors. Besides, shapes and decorative patterns became more diverse. 

皇权与地位的象征

A Symbol of Imperial Authority

景泰蓝诞生于皇宫，从诞生的那一刻起，就没有走出过皇宫，是皇宫大殿的主要陈设，亦是镇殿之宝。

Chinese cloisonné was born in the imperial palace. Since the day of its birth, it has never left the imperial palace. Cloisonné enamelware was often used as the central decorations in the halls of the imperial palace. 

景泰款掐丝珐琅缠枝莲纹尊

明宣德

A cloisonné enamel zun (wine vessel) decorated with interwinding twigs and lotus flowers in the style of the Jingtai reign 

Xuande reign of the Ming Dynasty 

掐丝珐琅葫芦纹盨式炉

清乾隆

A cloisonné enamel incense burner with gourd patterns

Emperor Qianlong’s reign, Qing Dynasty 

掐丝珐琅莲藕式瓶

清晚期

A cloisonné enamel vase with lotus patterns

Late Qing Dynasty 

作为一种宫廷艺术，景泰蓝是明清宫中高贵的装饰艺术品，是皇室权力与地位的象征。

As a royal handicraft, cloisonné served as dignified decorations in the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and was considered a symbol of imperial authority. 

金属工艺上的奇迹

A Wonder of Metal Craft

乾隆款掐丝珐琅天鸡尊

清乾隆

A cloisonné enamel zun (wine vessel) in the shape of rooster

Emperor Qianlong’s reign, Qing Dynasty 

景泰蓝是一种在铜质的胎型上，用柔软的扁铜丝，掐成各种花纹焊上，然后把珐琅质的色釉填充在花纹内烧制而成的器物，其制造工艺复杂繁多，同时涵盖了青铜工艺、瓷器工艺、传统绘画和雕刻技艺等，堪称集中国传统工艺之大成，所以自古便有“一件景泰蓝，十箱官窑器”之说。

Cloisonné is a kind of traditional enamelware. It begins with the casting of copper into different utensils, to which flat bronze wires are then affixed in decorative patterns. Enamels of different colors are applied to fill the hollows. Its making techniques involve bronze casting, porcelain making, traditional painting, and carving, covering almost all varieties of traditional Chinese crafts. Hence, an old saying goes that“a piece of cloisonné enamelware is worth of ten boxes of porcelainware from the government kiln.”

从制胎、掐丝、点蓝、烧蓝、到磨光、镀金，制作景泰蓝的每个环节都需要工匠极大的耐心。清末时有诗赞道，“就中绝技高天下，压倒五洲景泰蓝。”

From body casting, filigreeing, coloring, firing, polishing to gilding, every step of making cloisonné enamelware requires great patience of craftsmen. A poem of the late Qing Dynasty praising the handicraft reads,“The superb techniques of cloisonné are unparalleled across the five continents.”

熠熠生辉的文化瑰宝

Brilliant Cultural Heritage

景泰蓝在2006年被列为了第一批非物质文化遗产。在新中国外交史“国礼”篇章中，景泰蓝艺术品有着不可替代的尊崇地位，经常被选作为国礼赠送给外国元首、政要、世界权威组织和机构，在一些国际赛事和重要会议上也常常能见到景泰蓝的身影。

In 2006, cloisonné was listed among the first group of China’s national intangible cultural heritage. Throughout the diplomatic history of the People’s Republic of China, Cloisonné enamelware enjoys an irreplaceable position as it is often presented as a national gift to foreign leaders, politicians, and heads of international organizations who visit China to participate in international events and conferences.  

景泰蓝“四海升平”赏瓶

The cloisonné ornamental vase“Peace Around the World”

2014年11月，亚太经合组织第二十二次领导人非正式会议对外赠礼

A national gift for foreign leaders at the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November 2014

景泰蓝“和盛天下”簋形器

The cloisonné gui (square grain receptable)“Common Prosperity”

2019年4月，第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛对外赠礼

A national gift for foreign leaders at the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in April 2019 

景泰蓝镶花丝“丝路花语”赏瓶

The cloisonné ornamental bottle“Flowers Blooming along the Silk Road”

2019年4月，第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛对外赠礼

A national gift for foreign leaders at the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in April 2019 

景泰蓝“和平万象”摆件

The cloisonné ornament“Universal Peace”

2019年5月，亚洲文明对话大会对外赠礼

A national gift for foreign leaders at the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in May 2019

景泰蓝

Cloisonné

用其明艳的色彩点亮了千年文化

illuminates centuries-old history with its brilliant colors. 

不愧为中国工艺美术世界里

A shining gem in China’s

一颗璀璨的明珠

arts and crafts, 

流光溢彩熠熠生辉

it glitters with eternal light.