"Redwood inlay silver lacquer ware traditional manual technique is a unique traditional handicraft in Weifang and has been improving with the inheritance of five generations of folk artists after more than 200 years of ups and downs," said Chen Hongguang, vice-general manager of an enterprise specializing in such products in Weifang, Shandong province.

The technique is included in the state-level intangible cultural heritage list. Craftsmen engrave and inlay gold and silver strings and paint with natural lacquer on redwood.

"As a unique folk handicraft, it requires complicated craftsmanship", Chen noted, saying that precious redwood will be developed into embryo work after a series of fabrication processes, such as sawing, tenoning, carving, and gold or silver string inlaying.

Then the work will be polished and painted repeatedly with paint and lacquer, with the lacquer finally removed from the gold and silver strings to make them look natural.

Chen said the craftsmanship combines traditional engraving and inlaying of silver and carpentry skills, which make the product "classically elegant".

The silver inlaying follows the line drawings of traditional Chinese painting and demonstrates ethnic characteristics and local elements, he added.

An artist works on a redwood inlay silver lacquer ware at an enterprise specializing in such products in Weifang, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A piece of redwood inlay silver lacquer ware is seen at an enterprise specializing in such products in Weifang, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A set of redwood inlay silver lacquer wares is seen at an enterprise specializing in such products in Weifang, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]