Laiwu Tin Carving Wins Prestigious Awards

Recently, at the 2023 Shandong Arts and Crafts Expo and the “Shandong Handcraft” Fine Exhibition, Laiwu’s nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage, Tin Carving, stood out. This craft, with a history spanning over 300 years, is experiencing a revitalization through craftsmanship and innovation.

In this exhibition, the Tin Carving artwork “Beautiful Jinan” from the Luwang Workshop in Laiwu District, Jinan, won the “Lotus Cup” Shandong Arts and Crafts Design Innovation Award and Gold Award at the Shandong Provincial Arts and Crafts Design Innovation Competition. Another piece, “Embrace One,” received a Silver Award.

Tin Carving is a unique craft in China and the world, with a rich and ancient history. Laiwu Tin Carving, with its centuries-old heritage, is one of the most representative intangible cultural heritage projects in Laiwu. The process involves twelve steps, including design, melting, plate-making, cutting, shaping, molding, welding, filing, carving, polishing, and engraving, each step being indispensable.

Creating a large Tin Carving piece, from initial conceptualization to final shaping, takes approximately two to three months. Each work undergoes at least tens of thousands of hammer strikes. Despite advancements in technology and tools, Tin Carving has no shortcuts.

Laiwu Tin Carving gained prestige in ancient times. Historical records trace the first-generation inheritor of Laiwu Tin products back to the year 1676 when their tin products were presented as tributes to the imperial court. Historical records state, “When one of Emperor Qianlong's daughters got married, special envoys were sent to Laiwu to custom-make a set of Tin Carving wine vessels as part of the dowry.” This underscores the

exquisite craftsmanship of Laiwu Tin Carving.

Laiwu, known as a “humanistic fertile land,” is also a “handcraft fertile land.” According to statistics, Laiwu District has the highest number of intangible cultural heritage projects among all districts and counties in Jinan, Shandong Province, including 5 national-level projects, 24 provincial-level projects, 150 municipal-level projects, and 101 district-level projects. It boasts abundant resources and unique advantages for developing handcrafted industries.