Master descends to earth

Chapter 150

The so-called half-knife mud is actually a ceramic carving technique.To put it bluntly, it is the engraving knife method with one side deep and the other shallow. It was originally developed on the basis of inheriting the JDZ Song Dynasty engraving decoration technology.

The patterns and decorations are concise and bright, and the techniques are mainly printing, engraving and plastic sculpture.Among them, the half-knife clay method is used to carve patterns, and each line has a change in depth, alternating between virtual and real, giving the pattern a convex feel.

The sword technique is agile, free and unrestrained, as light and smooth as flowing clouds and flowing water. It can be described as a miraculous craftsmanship.Its ice-like jade-like artistic effect became the mainstream of ceramic decoration at that time.

Mao Zhengcong put down the plain tire, left the rest of the work to the apprentices, washed his hands, brought Su Yuan to the living room, sat down and chatted.Since I have seen the other party's amazing casting skills, I have regarded him as a fellow worker and hope to communicate more.

He took out a tea set from the cabinet and showed it: "This is Shadow Celadon, which is regarded as Mao's pinnacle work."

Su Yuan picked up a teacup, and kept turning it under the lamp, and it was instantly radiant and shining, as if the clear waves were rippling, warm as water.

"The so-called Yingqing, the porcelain is as white as jade, the glaze is bright and smooth, the body is thin and transparent, and the carved patterns are smooth and vivid, exquisite and delicate. Under the light, it is transparent, elegant, exquisite and clear, giving people a pleasing aesthetic feeling."

"It is the most representative work of Bandao clay. The combination of fresh and elegant green glaze and Bandao clay is as clear as jade and finely carved. It is used in the Four Treasures of the Study and Kung Fu tea sets, and it can better reflect the aspirations of literati."

Mao Zhengcong said seriously: "If the quality of plain tires is used as a standard to measure the quality of craftsmanship, Yingqing is the second. There is also a kind of exquisite traditional porcelain, which is as thin as a cicada's wing and as light as a floating cloud. It is exquisitely carved and can be called a masterpiece. !"

Seeing that Su Yuan smiled without saying a word, he continued to explain: "Linglong is the most difficult thing to cut, especially in the final stage. Thick, one more cut will ruin the device, and even a big breath may lead to the wastage of previous efforts."

"Without proficiency in skills, belief in victory, tenacious perseverance, meticulous spirit, and good psychological quality, it is impossible to achieve the crucial final victory."

Shaking his head after speaking, he said helplessly: "It's a pity that it has been lost, otherwise..."

Su Yuan nodded. In his opinion, the biggest difficulty in handicraft inheritance lies in people. In fact, not everyone is suitable for this job.It requires determination and persistence, as the old saying goes: You must be able to sit still!
In ancient times, craftsmen accepted apprentices, and they did odd jobs for the first three years, either carrying water or chopping firewood for cooking, and even the raw materials were not allowed to be touched.

The purpose is to examine how xinxing is?And the level of character?

Only after three years of satisfaction can I really get started, learn the art from a teacher, and start from the most basic.Forging a sword is to pull the bellows and strike the iron.Porcelain is to dig the soil, step on the lotus pier, and dry the mud, which takes another year or two.

Then you can start to pull the billet, then use the knife to repair the billet, and finally use the pen to paint the work. After a set, it will not take 20 years, don't even think about it!

What a waste of time.The apprentices who can be taught are of a very high level. If you give a piece of porcelain clay casually, you don't need to touch it with your hands, and you can tell where it comes from just by looking at your nose.

I have been working with mud for two full years, getting dirty every day, and my whole body is covered in mud. Anyone can do it.This is not talent, this is persistence.

What is talent really?

Starting from a sharp base, with the same knife and the same plain tire, some people can repair it to a millimeter, and some people can't repair it even if they are killed. This is talent.

This is especially true for painters, who need profound art and design skills. Even if it is an antique, it must be imitated stroke by stroke according to the ancients.

Imitation is not a bad word, ancient and modern, at home and abroad, all art starts from imitating the predecessors, without exception!

Thinking of this, Su Yuan put down his teacup and said tentatively: "I'm here to get some information from you. Do we have any suitable kiln entrances for sale in Longquan?"

"You want to buy a kiln?" Mao Zhengcong was stunned and said in confusion: "Yes, yes, do you really want to make porcelain yourself?"

Su Yuan took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "Porcelain has been developed since elementary school after all, and has feelings. Now the Sujia sword shop is on the right track and is run by professionals. As for me, I still prefer to study craftsmanship."

Mao Zhengcong nodded and secretly admired that he was indeed the youngest master. His calmness and focus were far beyond comparison!
If it were someone else, they would have to persuade them to give up this idea, because porcelain is too expensive, and a high-quality product can be produced, nine points depend on craftsmanship, and one point depends on luck.During the heyday of the Three Dynasties of the Qing Dynasty, how many kiln workers devoted themselves to this art day and night, sleepless and restless.

According to the records of the Qing Palace, Yongzheng asked the imperial kiln factory to burn several large pastel plates and determine the patterns himself. Tang Ying worked hard for two years and finally overcame all difficulties and completed the task.

It's a pity that the finished product rate is too low. In the end, only six high-quality products were produced from dozens of kilns. Tang Ying personally escorted them to Beijing to meet Yongzheng.After watching the porcelain, the emperor liked it and felt distressed. Finally, he gritted his teeth and ordered that it is not allowed to burn again in the future, so as not to waste people and money.

Even the emperor felt sorry for the cost, one can imagine the astonishing cost!

But Su Yuan is worth hundreds of millions, and any work can be worth tens of millions, and even himself is envious and jealous.Since he is willing to ask, it is trust. Mao Zhengcong pondered for a moment and said: "Longquan is the hometown of celadon after all. If there are not one thousand kilns, there are eight hundred kilns, but due to various reasons, there are only a handful of fine products that can be used."

"If the quantity is not large, I suggest not to consider the dragon kiln, which is expensive, time-consuming and labor-intensive, but a steamed bun kiln is more suitable."

Su Yuan nodded, the hero sees the same thing, the dragon kiln is too big, not as flexible as the steamed bun kiln, just like the sword, it takes the high-end route and wins by quality.

Seeing Su Yuan nodding in agreement, Mao Zhengcong secretly breathed a sigh of relief and suggested: "Porcelain has been passed down for thousands of years, from the mining of soil, to drawing and repairing the blanks, to the glazing painter, and finally to the kiln to watch the fire. Every link is profound and profound, and there is no room for the slightest careless."

"If I were to recommend it, Feng's steamed bun kiln is pretty good, especially Lao Feng, who is one of the few experts in Longquan!"

Su Yuan was overjoyed. As expected of an old man, this trip was worthwhile.Even now that the process has been simplified, firing a traditional wood kiln still requires craftsmen in at least six different processes, including putting the blank into the sagger, placing the sagger into the kiln, closing the kiln door, igniting and temperature control, comparing the photos, cooling the kiln, etc. process.

According to the most traditional division of ancient wood-burning kilns, each wood-burning kiln requires a pile master, a bill loader, a clock maker, a bag gatherer, a young man, three and a half men, two and a half men, one and a half men, and a handyman. There are seven or eight types of work in Tui Kiln and Lane, with a clear division of labor and each performing its duties.

Among them, the experienced master who is proficient in various kiln firing techniques, commonly known as the fire head, is the most critical person for the success of the firewood kiln. Like a general on the battlefield, he commands the overall situation, orders and prohibits, and keeps his word.

(End of this chapter)