Thermoforming is the most important traditional production technology of Boshan colored glaze. Craftsmen melt the raw material of glaze in high temperature more than 1000℃, then use various tools to process it by blowing, stretching, kneading and other techniques. All kinds of vases, flower balls and animal-shaped products made from dozens of working procedures, vividly demonstrate the "craftsmanship spirit".
Colored Glaze Craftsman - 1 by Su XinBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
Behind the glittering Boshan colored glaze, it is the glass craftsmen who take the "beauty" from the fire of a thousand degrees.
Sublimation - 1Boshan Colored Glaze Museum
Colored glaze thermoforming is the only technology in Chinese handicraft that the whole process is completely finished by hand in the high temperature state with dozens of procedures. As it is extremely difficult, most of the craftsmen need to have more than ten years of technical experience.
Enlightenment from Fire - 4Boshan Colored Glaze Museum
To make a simple thermoformed colored glaze bottle, Boshan craftsmen generally use blowing, shaping, unfolding, gluing, twisting, pulling and other techniques.
Colored Glaze Craftsman - 6 by Su XinBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
They use the fluidity, plasticity and visco-extensibility of colored glaze to instantaneously model and process melted glaze liquid into the desired shape.
Colored Glaze Craftsman - 11 by Su XinBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
Because of the special nature of glass, the time interval from liquid to solid product is fleeting.
Colored Glaze Craftsman - 9 by Su XinBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
So craftsmen need to race against time and finalize the shape of colored glaze in a short time.
Colored Glaze Shining in the FireBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
During thermoforming process, the working environment of craftsmen is rather difficult.
Passing the Flame by Wang ChunheBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
The kiln workshop is very hot with intolerable high temperature.
A Corner of the WorkshopBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
They take out the hot glazed material from the furnace with iron sticks and shuttle back and forth in the workshop.
Enlightenment from Fire - 1Boshan Colored Glaze Museum
Everyone is sweaty...
Master's Demeanor by Zhao GuangyuanBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
... and flushed.
Passing the Flame by Su TongzhongBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
This scene is playing out in the workshop every day. For these busy craftsmen, there is only one season here — hot summer.
Getting the Work Done at One FlingBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
Every step of modeling is risky. Even the slightest mistake can make dozens of procedures and days of efforts immediately go to waste. Then they have to start anew.
Manufacturing Skill by Wang LianzhenBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
Colored glaze thermoforming is the integration of both technology and art, and also a perfect embodiment of the spirit of the craftsmanship.
Dancing Flame by Chen XuefengBoshan Colored Glaze Museum
Boshan craftsmen spend all day with the hot furnace...
Red Glaze Blooming on the Pestle - 3Boshan Colored Glaze Museum
... using their wisdom and diligence to refine magical colored glaze.
