Exhibition shows eight marvelous handicrafts of Beijing

A craftsman makes lacquerware carvings at the opening ceremony of the "The Great Spirit of Craftsman - Eight Marvelous Handicrafts of Beijing" exhibition. The exhibition is held at the Capital Museum in Beijing from August 9 to November 9, 2016. [Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily]

A Beijing museum marks 35 years with a show on the city’s traditional craftsmanship. Wang Kaihao reports

This year, the Capital Museum is celebrating 35 years of its opening with the ongoing exhibition Eight Marvelous Handicrafts of Beijing.

The best of the city’s traditional craftsmanship in enamel, lacquerware and more is being exhibited through nearly 270 sets of handicraft articles on the show that runs through Nov 9.

According to museum director Guo Xiaoling, the display, which began on Aug 9, aims to advocate the spirit of craftsmanship defined by delicacy and luxury.

"This is an attempt to help traditional craftsmanship survive and thrive in the modern world," Guo says. "The handworks are complicated, so inheriting such skills is imperative."

The eight Beijing-style handicrafts are: jade carving, ivory carving, cloisonne enamel, caved lacquer, painted and inlaid lacquer, filigree, embroidery and imperial carpets.