Guo revives enamel silverware in Lijiang - 生活方式

Guo Pengru's studio in northwest Yunnan’s Yongsheng county

Guo Pengru, one of the last enamel masters in northwest Yunnan’s Yongsheng county, has refused to let the cloisonné enamel silverware fade away.

With the techniques of making the silverware on the verge of extinction, Guo visited museums in Beijing, Shenzhen, Xi’an and others, studying enamel techniques and uncovering forgotten knowledge.

Guo makes the cloisonné enamel silverware.

After years of travel and research, he found the key in a weathered old book: Chemical Craft Compendium. With patience and passion, he revived the lost firing formula with countless trials and experiments.

Originating in the Yuan Dynasty and flourishing through the Ming, Qing and Republic eras, this 800-year craft blends Eastern elegance with Western artistry. It was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2009 and elevated to a national status in 2021.

The cloisonné enamel silverware

Source: Amazing Lijiang on Facebook