Bodiless lacquerware in Fuzhou dating to the time of Emperor Qianlong (1711-99) has 18 categories and more than 1,200 varieties, with flexible shapes and thousands of forms.

The large pieces, including lacquer screens, painted vases and imitation bronze lions, are now being displayed in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Smaller ones include cigarette sets, tea sets, dinner bowls, plates, plates and cans.

The lacquerware is solid and light in texture, unique in shape, rich and diverse in decorative techniques and bright and harmonious in color. It can be described as a collection of beauty with extraordinary artistic charm.

In 1898, Fuzhou bodiless lacquerware works were part of the Paris World Expo and won a gold medal. Since then, they have emerged in international arts and crafts circles.

Fuzhou lacquerware won similar honors in world expos and fairs over the years — Berlin, Germany (1911); Turin, Italy (1912); Panama (1915); and Chicago in the United States (1934).

In 2006, the lacquerware was included in the first national intangible cultural heritage protection list.

Sun Manting, an inheritor of the centuries-old Fuzhou bodiless lacquerware craft, wants to pass down the tradition. [Photo by Chen Weikai/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]