Tan Jicheng – Inheritor of Enamelled Silverware-making Craft in Yongsheng County, Lijiang

Tan Jicheng （谭继成） is an inheritor of enamel silverware craftsmanship in Jin Guan Town (金官镇), Yong Sheng County (永胜县), which is located in Lijiang City (丽江市) and is an important heritage site for this traditional craft. Growing up in a family of silversmiths, Tan Jicheng developed a strong interest in enamel silverware production. He learned this traditional skill from his elders and gradually mastered the entire process, from design and blank making to filigree, enamel application, firing, and more.

The enamel silverware craftsmanship was introduced to Yong Sheng during the Yuan Dynasty and later spread among the local people. To date, only the Tan family in San Chuan Town (三川镇) and the Tang family in Yongbei Town (永北镇) of Yong Sheng County continue to inherit and practice this traditional skill. The production of enamel silverware involves mixing and grinding quartz, marble, borax, and chlorides into a powder, melting them according to different material crystals, and coloring the enamel glaze with the unique colors of metal ions. The decorative patterns on the works are mostly auspicious patterns from Han Chinese folk culture. The shapes are practical and aesthetically pleasing, with exquisite craftsmanship, vivid and unique patterns, bright and lustrous colors, and a color scheme dominated by cobalt blue and cinnabar, complemented by appropriate amounts of yellow, green, white, and ochre. The entire process is divided into six steps: blank making, filigree, enamel application, firing, inspection, and packaging.

Tan Jicheng’s enamel silverware craftsmanship is exquisite, and his works showcase the traditional artistic style and profound cultural connotations of the Naxi people. His works cover a wide range of subjects, including traditional religious items such as incense burners and ritual instruments, as well as ornaments and decorations reflecting Naxi folk culture. Building on traditional techniques, Tan Jicheng continuously innovates by combining modern design concepts with traditional craftsmanship, infusing new vitality into the ancient enamel silverware. In 2021, the Yong Sheng Enamel Silverware Craftsmanship (Silver-based Cloisonné Craftsmanship) was listed in the national intangible cultural heritage representative project catalog.

As an inheritor of enamel silverware craftsmanship, Tan Jicheng is not only dedicated to creation but also actively cultivates the younger generation of enamel silverware enthusiasts. He holds enamel silverware workshops and training classes to pass on the skills to more people, making significant contributions to the inheritance and development of this traditional art. His efforts have revitalized enamel silverware in Yong Sheng County and injected new energy into the transmission and development of traditional Chinese culture.

Enamel silverware shares deep historical roots with Beijing cloisonné and has rich historical and cultural connotations. It is a testament to the fusion of Western decorative styles and southwestern ethnic cultures. Driven by his passion and dedication to enamel silverware production, Tan Jicheng continues to move forward on the path of inheritance and innovation, becoming an outstanding representative of enamel silverware craftsmanship in Jin Guan Town, Yong Sheng County.