What can one do with a set of needles, a hammer and a metal sheet? Have no idea? In the hands of certain people, the sheet will turn to a piece of fine art.

This pattern took Master Wu about only 5 minutes

“What are you striking there?” is a frequently asked question that Master Wu would hear. Five minutes later, the answer was visible: a lovely doggy would appear on the sheet. It looked like magic and simple. However, behind these five minutes are decades of hardworking and a long history of a traditional skill; behind the little doggy are an incredible handicraft and an incomparable traditional culture.

Established in 1848, Laofengxiang is the most distinguished and time-honored jewelry brand in China. Its history dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1636-1911). After having spanned three centuries, it is the only hundred-year-old store handed down from half a century ago in China.

File photo of the Langfengxiang

At an exhibition of Chinese intangible cultural heritage, Laofengxiang’s traditional craft called Jinyinxigong (extremely fine manufacturing processes of gold and silver) was highly attractive and appealing to a wide audience, including myself.

I walked up and began to chat with the Masters who attentively concentrated on two pieces of copper sheets respectively (for practice). On one sheet was a bossed, cloud-riding Chinese dragon. The dragon was so lifelike that I couldn’t help wondering how it was done.

Jinyinxigong is a traditional craft which combines gold or silver with extremely complex and fine manual skills. The products usually have an exquisite and expensive interior decoration along with jewelry. After being produced by the Masters, the material can be as thin as a cicada's wings or as gracile as a hair.