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Arts & Crafts of China |
By Scott Minick and Jiao Ping |
| Thames and Hudson, 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y., 10110, 1996, pp. 126, $19.95, softcover. |
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| Contemporary arts and crafts in China are alive and well, not to mention extraordinarily beautiful and well-made. Minick and Ping make a significant contribution to the appreciation of these works which hale from an abundance of Chinese provinces in a variety of forms. The authors begin with an overview of the traditions behind the crafts; religious and superstitious practices are touched upon and this approach introduces the subject well. "The artisan's own underlying need to transcend both physical and material limitations to achieve a greater spirituality is...evident, even in the most humble of rural crafts." Examinations of textiles and embroidery, jewelry and adornment, and lacquer, clay, bamboo, wood, and paper creations follow, each chapter accompanied by a wealth of black and white photographs of artisans and shops, illustrations of general forms, and images of well-chosen examples. Minick's and Ping's text is lively, knowlegable, wonderfully written, and extremely thorough. Materials and techniques are discussed in conjunction with historical influences: "Many of the more sophisticated Sichuan lacquerwares are modelled after works from the Tang Dynasty, continuing the complex and expensive techniques of qiangjin and moxian." Some 120 large, color plates depict the best of China's offerings, from batik, porcelain and stone carvings to shoulder bags, charms, jewelry and clay masks. Detailed captions offering information on manufacture and geographical origin accompany each. A map of China and her provinces, a general discussion of collecting Chinese arts and crafts, a chronology of dynasties, and a select bibliography are also featured.
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