Korean hollow metal paper-cut ornaments
The Goguryeo people living along the Yalu River and in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula established the Goguryeo regime in 37 BC until its demise in 668 AD. During this period, they had close contacts with the Han, Jin, Sui, and Tang dynasties, and were able to There is a very high level of smelting bronze, gold, copper and Kui gold products. A large number of Kui gold wares unearthed from the tombs of Goguryeo ruins in the 4th and 5th centuries AD include gilt belt ornaments, gilt horse oranges, gilt saddle bridges, gilt copper bells, gilt soles, etc. These hollow gilt wares can be regarded as It is a paper-cut work carved from a thin copper sheet.
Gilting is a metal craft decoration technique that appeared during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Gold and mercury are synthesized into gold amalgam, which is applied to the surface of the copperware. The mercury is heated to evaporate, and the gold adheres to the vessel and does not fall off. This technology was introduced to Goguryeo along with immigrants from the Central Plains during the Han Dynasty. Goguryeo gilt paper-cuts were produced around the 4th century AD. They include curly grass patterns, cloud patterns, square sheng patterns, connected bead patterns, etc., which are all influenced by the culture of the Central Plains of the Han and Tang Dynasties. The half-fold and quarter-fold patterns used in paper-cutting are Techniques such as two-way continuation and four-way continuation are also widely used. It can be said that the gilt paper-cuts of the Goguryeo era are the earliest paper-cut works created by the ancestors of the Korean people, and they have had a significant impact on folk crafts in various periods of Korean history.
The Korean people have a very high level of woodworking furniture, including clothes cages, hanging wardrobes, rice cabinets, kitchen cabinets, Kang tables, bookcases, etc. In order to beautify and strengthen these wooden utensils, many metal ornaments of various shapes are often nailed to the front of clothes cages, etc., some with as many as 50 pieces, forming a unique decorative style of Korean clothes cage art. Most of these metal ornaments are made of white copper, but also made of brass and black iron. They use hollowing and carving techniques to create colorful paper-cut patterns. They are the continuation and development of the gilt paper-cuts of the Goguryeo era. The engraved patterns have transitioned from the abstract patterns of the Goguryeo era to concrete images of flowers, birds, animals, pavilions and pavilions. Generally, the overall shape is carved with a tool, and the details are represented by punched dots and lines.
There are more materials used in modern times, some are cut and carved with sticky notes that can be easily pasted at any time, some are pasted with cloth, and some are cut and carved with cans, etc., mostly as decorations or craft souvenirs. With the development of the times, new materials are constantly emerging, which will inevitably break the single model of paper-cut art that can only be cut and carved with paper. Otherwise, it will not conform to the historical past and will alsoIt is not conducive to the future development. Moreover, many thin modern materials will be widely used in paper-cutting art in the future
