A Dehua white-porcelain cup on show. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Handicrafts present a region's history, folk customs and cultural identity, evoking a collective nostalgia among audiences.

Over 200 craft items from Fujian province are on display at the National Museum of China for two months.

The works on show include puppets, ceramics, paper cuttings and embroidery that reflect many aspects of Fujianese people's traditional lifestyles as shaped by the coastal province's conditions.

The exhibition especially focuses on the sophistication of wood and bamboo sculptures, lacquer art, Shoushan stone carving and Dehua porcelain — known to Western collectors by its French name, "blanc de chine".

These have continued to play an important role in beautifying people's homes and minds.