Source: CCTV.com
02-17-2009 08:43
Creating delicate works from gold foil is a traditional handicraft in China, dating back about two thousand years. But the craft remains a mystery to most people. Today we show you how gold foil objects are made.
Crowds of people have gathered to watch experts from the Nanjing Gold-Foil Group in East China's Jiangsu Province.
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| There are more than 10 steps to transform solid gold cubes into intricate pictures, sculptures and other objects of all different shapes and sizes. |
There are more than 10 steps to transform solid gold cubes into intricate pictures, sculptures and other objects of all different shapes and sizes.
The gold bullion is hammered by hand into 16 square centimeter pieces of gold leaf.
Gold foil expert Ge Yigen said, "We have to hammer the gold bullion for six hours before it becomes thin enough. Our skill is very important as you have to judge where and how hard to hammer to make even gold foil."
After several stages of skilful hammering, small gold leaves become pieces of glittering gold foil.
