From: Yuncheng Urban Collective Industrial Association
Issue Time: 2020-05-15 15:46
Yulong Arts and Crafts Factory is a cultural enterprise engaged in the design, development, production and sales of mother-of-pearl lacquerware products. The founder, ZHAI Youlan, is a master of arts and crafts in Shanxi province. The products of our factory, which are purely hand-made and custom-produced, have high collection value. In recent years, in order to meet the needs of domestic and foreign markets, on the basis of inheriting and carrying forward the traditional technology, the enterprise keeps exploring, innovates from the old, overcomes many difficult technologies, and fills many deficiencies and gaps in the products’ processing. The products not only meet the needs of domestic consumers, but also deeply favored by foreign friends. Its process is complicated, and with ancient fragrance and color, its products are practical treasures for collection, display and gift.
In 2013, the “Peacock Peony” vase was permanently collected by Shanxi Lacquer Industry Association, and ZHAI Youlan was named “Folk Arts and Crafts Master” by Yuncheng People’s Government in the same year. In 2015, her work “Food Box” won the gold medal of “Intelligent Craftsman Cup” in the second Taiyuan Cultural Expo. In 2016, in the 17th China Arts and Crafts Master Works Exhibition, her work the ground table “Bu’nian Picture” won the silver award; In 2017, the box “Longevity Dedication Picture” won the first prize in the first provincial workers’ handicraft exhibition and evaluation, at the same time, ZHAI Youlan won first-class merit certificate of advanced individual awarded by Shanxi Province Labor Competition Committee. In 2018, the vase “Hundred Children Pictures” won the bronze prize of the 19th “Chinese Arts and Crafts Master Works and Handicraft Art Fine Exhibition”.
In 1978, ZHAI Youlan was among the first batch of workers to work in the factory when Mother-of-pearl Lacquerware Arts and Crafts Factory was established in Wudui village, Taiyang Commune, Jishan County. In 1985, ZHAI Youlan formally established the Arts and Crafts Factory, hired Wei Xiujia, an art and craft master to guide the factory and recruited a wide range of students to work on inlaid mother-of-pearl lacquerware products. From 1985 to 2000, more than 100 professionals were trained to inherit and develop its production technology. In 2004, with the economic development and the tourism boom, ZHAI Youlan kept up with the pace of social development. The octagonal jewelry boxes, plum blossom boxes, heart-shaped boxes, bracelets and mahogany combs produced by ZHAI Youlan sold well at home and abroad, driving the economic development of the village. In 2012, ZHAI Youlan put her son YANG Yulong in charge of the craft due to her growing age and love for art. While concentrating on researching and developing works, ZHAI Youlan began to prepare for the establishment of an exhibition room for the fine art of mother-of-pearl lacquerware, so as to continuously increase the popularity of mother-of-pearl; she also collected and organized data about mother-of-pearl lacquerware, and successfully declared a municipal intangible cultural heritage protection project. At the same time, ZHAI Youlan felt that the burden on her shoulders was heavier. But she is glad that the relevant national departments are paying more attention to this cultural heritage and are able to better protect and develop this old craft, especially because her son is very passionate about this traditional culture.
In 2015, in the Second Shanxi Cultural Industry Expo and Trade Fair, the work “Food Box” produced by ZHAI Youlan and designed by YANG Yulong won the gold award of “Intelligent Craftsman Cup” Fine Arts and Crafts Award, and “Sea of Pens” won the bronze award. In November of the same year, her work “Food Box” won the bronze medal of “2015 Baihua Cup” Chinese Arts and Crafts Fine Works Award in the 16th Chinese Arts and Crafts Master Works and International Fine Art Fair. Looking at these medals and certificates, ZHAI Youlan is more confident to inherit, innovate and develop the mother-of-pearl inlaying craftsmanship of Jishan.
In 2016, the new work “Bunian Picture” won the silver award of “2016 Baihua Cup” in the 17th Chinese Arts and Crafts Master Works and Handicraft Fine Art Fair, and the work was later exhibited in Shanxi Arts and Crafts Art Museum for a long time.
In 2017, ZHAI Youlan and YANG Yulong’s new product “Food Box” won the silver award of “Yibo Cup” Cultural Excellence Competition of Jade and Lacquer in the 2017 China (Yangzhou) Cultural Industry Expo. The new work “Longevity Dedication Picture” won the first prize in the First Shanxi Province Workers Handicrafts Exhibition jointly held by Shanxi Federation of Trade Unions and Shanxi Province Urban Collective Industrial Association. In the Third Shanxi Cultural Industry Fair, the vase “Receiving Luck from Four Seasons” won the bronze award of “Intelligent Craftsman Cup”.
Master ZHAI Youlan’s perseverance, persistence, creation, promotion and communication enable more people to know the traditional craft of mother-of-pearl inlaying craft in Jishan county, and at the same time highlight the artistic characteristics, its intrinsic cultural value, artistic value and collection value of mother-of-pearl inlaying craft. Focusing on deepening the supply-side structural reform, promoting the integrated development of traditional handicraft and cultural and creative industries, and focusing on cultivating and building traditional handicraft brands, Master ZHAI Youlan will make new achievements on the new journey.
