With a long history, the art of Chinese carving has survived and thrived over the course of the years. Chinese carving varies greatly from its counterpart in the West. Objects such as figures, animals, plants or landscapes are delicately carved by artists.
Chinese artists demonstrate their talents and creativity on a range of raw materials from stone, tooth, horn, roots, and bamboo to paper. Carvings were originally done on bamboo before artists adopted other materials. Many of these works have become national treasures.
Tooth and Horn Carving
Generally speaking "tooth and horn carvings" refers to objects carved out of animal teeth and horns, and in the circle of collectors, the term specifically refers to works carved out of ivory and rhinoceros horns. Ivory is naturally beautiful, white and soft, and is therefore very exquisite and full of artistic charm; Rhinoceros horn carvings are famous for their rarity and great value.
Ivory carving
Ivory carving is one of China's oldest arts and examples of skillfully carved ivory have been found in tombs dating as far back as the Shang Dynasty (18th -12th century B.C.); these pieces are so well designed and executed that they suggest a long previous development, probably stretching back to prehistoric times.
During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, tooth carving gradually became prosperous. By the Tang (618-907 A.D.) and Song (960-1279 A.D.) dynasties, tooth and horn carving was much more sophisticated in terms of both technique and craftsmanship. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the carving became very popular, while the style tended to be simple and smooth.
In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the handicraft industry and businesses began to prosper and Western culture was gradually introduced into China. People's cultural and aesthetic consciousness was gradually enhanced and the tastes of the royal court and feudal officials increased the demand for tooth and horn carvings, triggering the unprecedented development of handicrafts during the period. As a result, many skillful craftsmen emerged, producing a large number of beautiful tooth and horn carving works. However, due to a shortage of raw materials, rhinoceros horn carvings only enjoyed a short period of popularity during the reigns of emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong.
In modern times, the world has run into a more serious shortage of tooth and horn resources. With increased awareness of the negative impact ivory trade has on endangered species, the protection of wild animals has developed and many countries, including China, have forbidden the auction of tooth and horn carvings. This means that the carvings will become more valuable for collection
Elephants play a fundamental role in maintaining biological diversity and shaping a healthy bush environment, and rhinoceroses are also an endangered species. To protect endangered species, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has triggered a global ban on the trade of items made from ivory taken from these animals. China has also gone on the record against the illegal trade of endangered species.
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