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Description

Circular label on rice paper backing with gold leaf background. Two human figures are depicted. The first figure is wearing a green robe trimmed in orange, while the other is wearing an orange robe trimmed in green. Between them is a gold coloured object with orange dots painted on it. Above their heads is a green branch with white flowers held by the figure in the orange robe. There are pink and white flowers on either side and at the bottom. Label is outlined in blue key pattern with a further outline of white, pink, green, orange and purple petal-like shapes.

History Of Use

Invented in China around the 12th century or earlier, firecrackers have been widely used in China to serve a variety of religious and secular purposes. In both the past and present, firecrackers are used to ward off evil spirits, to honour spirits and deities, and to mark special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, funerals, shop openings, or festivals. Firecrackers are by far in greatest demand during the annual Lunar New Year, when they are ignited to purify a space and to blast away negative energies and demons. Firecrackers are also used in “fengshui” geomantic practices, as ritual objects to be hung in the home to stimulate new beginnings, prosperity, and the protection of the household. A large number of gold firecracker labels were produced from approximately 1850-1910, in the Guangdong region of southern China, to decorate the wooden crates that they were shipped in. Since many of these were produced in Foshan (Fatshan), a city noted for its manufacture of handmade ritual goods, collectors often refer to them as “Fat Shan” labels. The characteristic "gold" effect is produced from bronze or copper sheets and gold leaf, and is recognized as a speciality of Foshan. They range in size from smaller four-inch squares to larger circular labels with a twenty-four inch diameter. The gold labels are colourfully painted with auspicious themes, including depictions of deities, legends and myths, historical narratives, and scenes of everyday life. The images enhance the fireworks’ role in dispelling evil while attracting virtue and prosperity. These gold labels were widely sold in south-central and south-west China, and south-east Asia. Local manufacturers and merchants would order bulk firecrackers, pack them into wooden crates, and decorate the crates with these labels to entice potential distributors and consumers. Aside from their use as firecracker labels, many people in south China used the labels to decorate their rooms and utensils. Few labels survived to today because of their fragility and the small value placed on them at the time. After 1910, these painstaking production techniques were gradually replaced by lithography machines, which allowed artisans to print full colour labels on rice paper.

Specific Techniques

Gold labels were handmade in workshops using assembly line techniques. Artisans first cut out the labels' overall shape from bronze or copper foil. Next, they apply a thin rice paper backing to strengthen the foil. To texturize the foil, the artisans used pointed tools to emboss designs. These sheets were pinned to a wall or table so that several painters could work on them. The backgrounds would be painted first, followed by the details in the foreground using smaller brushes. During the last application, even finer brushes were used for the facial features and calligraphy. Some shiny areas of the original bronze or copper foil were left exposed. It was also common to add a layer of gold leaf designs, pressed out of hand-carved wooden blocks, to further accentuate the design.

Iconographic Meaning

The two young boys depicted here are the immortal twins known as He He Er Xian, the "Two Spirits of Harmony and Union." They are prominent figures in Chinese Lunar New Year art as they are said to bless the family with good relations and unity when they come together for the celebrations. The brother on the right is holding a long stemmed flower or grain that signifies abundance while the brother on the left holds a small box, a sign of union. They are surrounded on either side by pink lotus blossoms, a sign of purity and harmony. The box (he) and the lotus (he hua) are both rebus signs for harmony (he xie) and union (he). The layering of multiple rebus signs encourages viewers to enunciate these auspicious words as a way of bringing forth the blessings of the image. Being the patron saints of marriage, these two figures also appear widely in the images used for wedding celebrations.

Item History

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