After three generations of accumulating wealth, the Qing Dynasty reached another culmination with rich natural resources, booming economy and glory business during the Qianlong Emperor’s time. Qianlong flattered himself as an elegant man for his massive art collection became an intimate part of his life. His collections included paintings, calligraphy, jade, ceramics, lacquer, etc. The variety, amount and technology of arts and crafts all achieved the highest level in that period. The skillful craftsmen all over the county worked at the manual workshop in the palace. Therefore, there were numerous exquisite works handed down from that period.

清朝經(jīng)過(guò)三代的財(cái)富積淀,大清王朝走到了乾隆時(shí)期,物產(chǎn)富饒,經(jīng)濟(jì)繁榮,工商業(yè)發(fā)達(dá)。乾隆帝自命風(fēng)雅,廣羅天下之奇,不僅是大家熟知的書(shū)文字畫(huà),對(duì)玉器、陶瓷、漆器、琺瑯等也狂熱至極。據(jù)《石渠寶笈》所載,乾隆一朝的收藏品計(jì)有9000件字畫(huà)、 1萬(wàn)件陶瓷,以及相當(dāng)多的玉器、漆器、琺瑯器等。
乾隆時(shí)期工藝品的種類(lèi)、數(shù)量和制作工藝均達(dá)到了精益求精、登峰造極的程度。乾隆皇帝在宮中設(shè)置專(zhuān)門(mén)的手工作坊,全國(guó)各地的能工巧匠供職于此,又因皇家制造不惜工本,所以乾隆年間流傳下來(lái)的精美絕倫之作比比皆是。
玉器之創(chuàng)新

乾隆時(shí)期的宮廷玉器,是數(shù)千年的玉雕歷史三大高峰中最為光輝的一座,具有玉器制造史上里程碑的意義。
其中,“乾隆工”是乾隆時(shí)期精美玉器的代名詞。其選料講究,色澤純正溫潤(rùn),設(shè)計(jì)工整對(duì)稱(chēng),造型精巧雅致,雕工嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)規(guī)矩,紋飾婉約柔美又華麗。除材美工巧之外,其設(shè)計(jì)創(chuàng)新更是一大亮點(diǎn)。宮廷畫(huà)家參與玉雕的創(chuàng)作設(shè)計(jì),新的玉雕題材和器形不斷涌現(xiàn)。將年款刻于玉器上是玉器史上前所未有的,從乾隆時(shí)期開(kāi)始成為宮廷玉器的最大特征;將書(shū)法刻于玉上也是乾隆皇帝的創(chuàng)造,他常命玉匠將其為玉器所作的題詞撰文刻于玉器之上。
乾隆帝25方御寶中,玉璽23方,又分為白玉、墨玉、青玉、碧玉四種,用材上唯玉為貴,足以見(jiàn)得乾隆對(duì)玉器的喜愛(ài)。

瓷器之奇巧
陶瓷的制作工藝在乾隆時(shí)期達(dá)到了陶瓷史上的最高水平,精細(xì)的瓷質(zhì)、瑩潤(rùn)的釉面、新奇的造型、絢麗的色彩,無(wú)論數(shù)量還是質(zhì)量均達(dá)到了歷史的頂峰。……
世界知識(shí)畫(huà)報(bào)·藝術(shù)視界
2014年3期