A shell carving exhibition was held at the Chinese Traditional Culture Museum in Beijing on November 5-19, showing works from artists of different ages and from different regions of China.

Shell carving originates in China's coastal and riverine regions. Cities such as Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province, Xiantao in Hubei Province in central China and Beihai in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwest China all boast long histories of shell carving. This art form traces its roots to the Shang and Zhou dynasties (1600-256 B.C.) and reached its apex during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

Shell carving blends several traditional Chinese arts, including painting, calligraphy and sculpture, to create different styles, such as three-dimensional shell carving, micro-carving and piled carving. Artisans process natural shells through dozens of stages, preserving inherent colors, textures and luster while infusing each piece with a unique aesthetic vision.

(Text and photos by Wei Yao)