Silhouette Carving (影雕 Yingdiao)

The silhouette carving, which is a branch of the Hui'an school of stone sculpture in Fujian, derives its name from its photo-like artistic effects. For its exquisite craftsmanship it is extolled as a wonder of China.

Using a variety of tiny chisels ranging in size from nails to needles, the artist consults the details of a photograph while carving on a piece of bluestone about two inches in thickness, forming patterns and images by varying the size, depth and density of the chisel points and alternating realism with abstraction. A piece of sil-houette carving can be as large as more than 100 square metres and as small as 4 to 5 square cm.

The silhouette carvings made in the Hui'an County Stone Carving Factory are often selected as gifts for diplomatic occasions and shown in exhibitions abroad.