Lacquer thread sculptures are a delicate art. The sap of lacquer trees is mixed with brick powder and spun into hair-like threads, which are then used to shape various patterns, such as Chinese dragons and phoenixes. The process involves 27 procedures and has taken local craftsmen more than 10 generations to master and perfect.This year the art of lacquer thread sculpture in Xiamen, Fujian Province, was listed as a national intangible heritage. However, a decade ago, the lacquer thread sculptures, like many other traditional Chinese arts, were facing demise. Were it not for Shen Jinli, her workshop and a family tradition, the old art might have well faded away from people's memory.
