The black mud tells the deep and thick history of Huating, the coal capital, and the sandware made of mud contains the diligence and wisdom of the people of Huating. Pieces of ordinary mud have become exquisite and unique sand tools under the ingenuity of successive generations of craftsmen. So far, the firing process of Huating "Ankou Sand Ware" has existed for more than 1,000 years in the generations of craftsmen and artists. As the seventh generation inheritor of Ankou sand ware making skills, Yuan Yi after the 90s has made "Ankou Sand Ware" shine today through the dialogue between modernity and tradition, technology and art.
Yuan Yi was born in a family of ceramic craftsmen, and began to contact the sand making process from a young age, and then entered the university to learn ceramic production technology professionally. After graduation, Yuan Yi visited ceramic production areas across the country, and after several comparisons, realized the unique charm of Ankou sand ware, and decided to integrate the advanced production process into the traditional sand production.
Yuan Yi, the seventh generation inheritor of Ankou sand making technology: My university is on the side of Wuxi Institute of Arts and Crafts Ceramics, or in Yixing. So the production process over there has a great influence on me, including some tea utensils made in the early stage, some utensils, which are close to some traditional classic crafts. Of course, these materials we use, or our local black dry mud, firing or choose the most traditional open fire, coal kiln firing, which is also our difference from all other things including purple sand, porcelain and these things a fundamental, it has its unique temperament, charm.
The traditional "Ankou sand ware" is mainly based on cooking utensils, casseroles and other living utensils, and the process is relatively simple. Yuan Yi broke the traditional concept of production, purchased advanced production equipment, integrated advanced production technology into it, and finally successfully produced Ankou sandware tea sets and handicrafts through more than two years of arduous exploration.
Yuan Yi, the seventh generation inheritor of Ankou sand making technology: In the process of firing, the difficulty is very large, two years and an apprentice I brought, two years to do at least hundreds of things, but the finished products fired out of less than 50 pieces, the yield rate of less than 20%. Later, through continuous efforts, the yield rate slowly rose from 20% to 50%, from 50% to today's relatively stable 80%.
The main raw material of Ankou sand ware crucible mud is produced in Ankou High Mountain, because the crucible mud made of utensils has strong air permeability, non-toxic substances, and the food it contains is not spoiled, which is favored by people. While changing the production process, Yuan Yi insisted on using the traditional "black dry mud" as the raw material for production, maintaining the innocence and background color of the "Ankou Sand Ware".
Yuan Yi, the seventh generation inheritor of Ankou sand making technology: Whether it is a tea vessel or a casserole pot is not easy to decay, breathable, it has activated charcoal inside, if the water quality is not good, it can play a purifying role. It also has some trace elements needed by the human body, which really plays a role in health care.
Ankou sand ware is a special form of artistic expression, which has been passed down to the present day, expressing the inner spirit and aesthetic pursuit of generations of craftsmen. On the basis of grasping the characteristics of traditional sandware, Yuan Yi has re-endowed Ankou sand ware with new era value through the innovation of the production process, and also promoted the Ankou sand ware to gain the favor of more consumers.
Yuan Yi, the seventh generation inheritor of Ankou sand making technology: Sales are relatively stable, and it is also a stable and good trend. At present, the annual sales of our traditional cookware including casserole pots and tea utensils are about 2 million yuan.
Source: Pingliang Radio and Television Station
Note | The Pingliang Cultural Tourism article aims to promote Pingliang Cultural Tourism, and is welcome to reprint. Some of the text and pictures originate from the Internet, the copyright belongs to the original author, if there is infringement, please contact to delete.