Musician hits right note in bid to save traditional crafts

A pair of cell vases featuring the Jingtailan qiasi techniques.

"To inherit traditions doesn't mean that one should limit oneself to conventional rules. We all need new perspectives to adapt traditions to modern tastes," says Zhu.

"By blending age-old lacquer art with an electronic musical instrument, we've found a way to enrich people's lives with ancient wisdom."

Lacquer art master Zhong tells China Daily that he is always thinking about how to link traditional handicrafts with the reality of people's lives today, and that he found Kanjian a good platform where he can make a contribution.

"Traditional crafts encapsulate unspeakable beauty. It is difficult to let go of them.

"People recognize their attachment to this heritage because it is deeply rooted in our DNA, just like how we reunite with our families during the Spring Festival," says Zhong.

Among the exhibits at Sotheby's are also a couple of red-and-white cell vases that feature the qiasi skills of Jingtailan artisans from Beijing. Here, silver wires are affixed to the vase to form numerous cells, giving the vases a graceful, yet simple and modern feel, says Zhu.

Isaure de Viel Castel, Sotheby's head of Boundless Sales department, says they are very impressed by Zhu's dedication to enlivening Chinese craft traditions, and the works on show are "all conceived with a great attention to details and to the selection of materials".