文/柴軍

2013年的第三屆中國國際輕工消費品展覽會上,博山琉璃最為搶眼,博山區中國玻璃(琉璃)藝術大師王乃寶被授予“中國石榴王(琉璃)”的殊榮。
王乃寶,1939年出生于博山,1953年開始從事琉璃研發與制造工作。受前輩們的悉心指導,他廣泛涉足琉璃制作領域,而尤以燈工擅長;1964年被國家二輕部選派赴捷克留學深造,上世紀70年代后專注于燈工,是全省琉璃行業燈工造型的代表性人物。
燈工是一項考驗溫度和耐心的技藝,燈工匠人將五顏六色的琉璃料條放在近千度的火焰中加熱,使之快速熔化,然后借助鉗子、刀片等工具進行塑形。火候、形狀、色彩都是對匠人的考驗。石榴由于籽粒眾多,色彩駁雜,工藝相當繁復,一直被認為是燈工界中的巨大挑戰,非有高超技藝之人不敢問津。
王乃寶僅憑紅、藍、黃、白、綠幾個常用的基本色彩的玻璃料棒,就能調和出五彩繽紛的琉璃世界。燈工中顏色運用最忌諱呆板,同樣是綠色翅膀,螳螂的翅膀碧綠如玉,而蟈蟈的短翅則于綠中略帶褐黃,臥在石榴上的蝗蟲則是青里泛白,其作品帶來生機的同時絕不破壞清雅色調。石榴籽,如果是通紅一簇,固然艷麗無比,但真的石榴籽,粒粒都是自根部起從白色、粉白漸變到鮮艷的玫瑰紅;石榴殼,也絕不是由單調的紅色組成,而是在紅色之中包含著靛青,在石榴尾部甚至還有點點的暗黑應和著青色石榴須,那是成熟石榴的標志性顏色……王乃寶像魔術師一般,用畢生精力把大自然色彩移植到了原本冷冰冰的琉璃上,幻化出足以亂真的藝術世界。

○琉璃燈工作品《眾籽石榴》Lampworking work Pomegranate with Numerous Seeds
燈工技藝與國畫工筆寫實十分相近,作為燈工界扛鼎人物,王乃寶以極強的藝術表現力被盛贊為“博山琉璃的一張名片”?!段骞蓉S登》《南瓜蟈蟈》……他的作品陳列室里,除了《眾籽石榴》外,還有諸多凝聚著其心血的技藝精湛、造型別致、富有博山濃郁文化特色的燈工精品。他用琉璃代替照相機,給無緣感受田園風光的人帶去了無限遐想。而讓他引以為豪的還有一件事情,那就是因琉璃而在馬耳他度過的一段美好時光。
1974年6月,受周恩來總理委托,王乃寶作為援助馬耳他技術小組組長,帶隊登上了去地中海的飛機。期間,他設計完成了琉璃魚、圣誕樹等援外琉璃產品100余種,其中水柱魚花瓶、海鷗煙缸等被原輕工部評為優秀作品,《花籃葡萄》被視作鎮廠之寶。一次,馬耳他玻璃廠接到一項特殊任務:按照該國工黨標徽做件玻璃制品。全廠工人束手無策,王乃寶念念不忘“是人家幫咱進入了聯合國”“要為國爭光”等周總理對他的囑托,于是挺身而出,足足花了一周時間,親自操刀才將手舉火炬、后置紅白十字旗的工黨黨徽做了出來。隨后,他又出色地完成了作為馬耳他出訪比利時外交禮物的比利時國徽。時任馬耳他總理的明托夫對這兩件精品驚嘆不已,執意在家中設宴并親自下廚款待王乃寶。
“中國石榴王(琉璃)”不僅是對王乃寶本人,更是對博山琉璃藝術最大的肯定和褒獎。
編輯/欒小惠

○《眾籽石榴》Pomegranate with Numerous Seeds
At the Third China International Light Industry Consumer Products Exhibition in 2013, the colored glaze of Boshan was the most eye-catching. Wang Naibao, Chinese Glass (Colored Glaze) Art Master of Boshan, was awarded the title of “King of Pomegranate (Colored Glaze) in China”.
Wang Naibao, born in the mountain city Boshan in 1939, began engaging in colored glaze R&D and manufacturing in 1953, and became a representative of lampworking and modeling in the colored glaze industry of Shandong Province. Lampworking is a technique that tests both temperature and patience. Lampworking craftsmen(glassblowers) place colorful glass strips on 1000°C flames to melt them rapidly;then, conduct shaping in reliance upon such tools as pliers and blades. Flame temperature, shape and color are all tests for craftsmen. The pomegranate craftwork with numerous seeds and mottled colors requires a complicated process. Thus, it has always been deemed as a huge challenge in the lampworking circles. Only highly-skilled craftsmen can make an attempt.
As a giant in the lampworking circles, Wang Naibao has highlevel lampworking skills which are similar to the traditional Chinese realistic painting. With strong artistic expression, he is praised as an “Image Icon of Boshan Colored Glaze”. In his exhibition room, in addition to the Pomegranate with Numerous Seeds, there are numerous fine blown glass works that are technologically exquisite, chic in modeling and filled with the strong cultural characteristics of Boshan. He uses colored glaze in place of a camera to bring infinite imagination to those who have no chance to experience the rural scenery.