Rolls-Royce pays homage to ancient paper craft

The air is filled with the earthy scent of wet fibers as strips of tree bark and rice straw are soaked, beaten, and transformed into delicate sheets of handmade paper — a craft perfected over more than 2,000 years.

Earlier this month, Anthony Zhao, regional director of Greater China at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, stepped into this world of patience, precision, and artistry in Jingxian county, Anhui province, the birthplace of traditional Xuan paper.

Over two days, Zhao and his team visited workshops, witnessing artisans turn raw plant fibers into paper, which has preserved centuries of Chinese culture.

The visit was part of a three-year initiative, Project Beating! Heart, Rolls-Royce's first deep dive into Chinese artisanal heritage promises to bridge centuries-old craftsmanship with modern automotive artistry.

"I felt like a student again," Zhao said with a smile. "Watching every meticulous move of the artisans, you realize the same patience and care go into a single sheet of handmade paper as into a Rolls-Royce Bespoke car. Every detail matters. Every gesture tells a story."

Handmade paper, chosen as the initiative's first focus, seemed almost made for this purpose. Zhao noted that both serve as blank canvases for creativity, both require painstaking handwork, and both demand extraordinary patience and attention to detail.

The fibers of the paper are carefully softened, refined, and formed by hand — a process that takes months, much like the hundreds of hours Rolls-Royce artisans spend creating a single bespoke vehicle. In either case, the outcome is a vessel for artistic expression that endures for generations.

One artisan, She Xianbing, born in 1976 and the founder of Yixuan Pavilion, has been learning and mastering the craft since 1993. Since around 2008, he has invested millions in research and innovation, experimenting with materials and methods to restore the level of excellence seen in China's historic papers.

"If we cannot reproduce the best paper our history has ever produced," She explained, "how can we create anything else?"

His relentless pursuit reflects a deep sense of responsibility and reverence for tradition, a spirit Rolls-Royce intimately recognizes.

Zhao described meeting She and other artisans as a reminder of the commitment and vision that drive both Chinese craftsmanship and Rolls-Royce luxury.

"Their dedication follows the same principles we uphold at Rolls-Royce: rarity, craftsmanship, heritage, conscientiousness," Zhao said. "The moment you see it, you understand why luxury is not just about price — it's about story, care, and soul."

The collaboration is a two-way street. In September, Chinese paper masters visited Rolls-Royce's Goodwood headquarters in the United Kingdom, leading master classes on traditional calligraphy, painting, and paper-making techniques. British designers and craftsmen were captivated.

Zhao recalled: "They immersed themselves completely, exploring ways to translate these ancient methods into modern automotive art while respecting their cultural roots."

Project Beating! Heart is not about pastiche. Rolls-Royce designers are not merely recreating Chinese motifs; they are reinterpreting them, weaving heritage into modern, luxurious expressions.

Zhao emphasized that the goal is to spark creativity, allowing Chinese craftsmanship to inspire new forms of Bespoke excellence.

"It's about dialogue," he said. "About learning, exchanging, and creating something that resonates with clients across cultures."