Jiuquan (CNS) -- Grape wine in luminous cups shines, as we raise them to lips the lute strikes up swiftly... So goes the ancient Chinese poem, inspiration for the idea that 'the luminous wine glass' is a must for wine lovers, as well as for all ardent pursuers of delicate craftsmanship.
Filled with alcohol and placed in moonlight, the one-millimeter thick luminous wine glass made of fine jade sparkles indeed. They are all the more chersihed because of their ablity to survive conditions of sudden heat or cold.
Wei Jianmin is a 57-year-old craftsman who has worked for 40 years at a traditional luminous wine glass factory in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu Province, preserving with his fellows this millennium-old craft. In his traditional values, jade symbolizes good virtues, and the people making or using jade objects must own a noble personality.
Wei's extraordinary polishing skills have bent his fingers out of shape and studded his hands with calluses. Though modern tools make things more efficient, a fine miniature still requires more than 30 procedures and takes an adept an entire week to finish, he explained.
In contrast to the high aesthetical value of these objects, the luminous wine glass industry is threatened by the reluctance and impatience of newer generations of would-be craftsmen. Learning the the skills required takes time and is less well paid than other semi-skilled occupations, said Wei.
The factory tries to counter the talent shortage by rehiring retired masters and upgrading the machines. In this way, the work load of aged craftsmen is lightened and they can devote their skills to the better pieces of artwork that may attract more upscale markets and the admiration and interest of younger generations.
