Asian Art Forums - Detail List

Asian Art Forums

Group: Message Board

Re: Temple charcoal rub

Posted By: mikeoz
Posted Date: Nov 23, 2011 (01:59 AM)

Message
Hi Rat,

Agree with you. But Patrick, this is not a charcoal rubbing or a wax rubbing like those from Thailand or the ones you may see of English tomb images.

Chinese rubbings are reproductions of carved stone stele and tomb wall carvings. First the stone is lightly sprayed with a very weak glue solution, and then Chinese hand-made xuan paper is applied to the surface, and gently pressed with a coir brush to impress the grooves into the paper so that only the image is left raised.

Chinese ink is then prepared, and a pad of silk (usually stuffed with cotton) is moistened with the ink, and very gently dabbed onto the surface, gradually darkening the image.

This is a time-consuming process and is now severely restricted in China in order to preserve the stele, some of which are extremely ancient. That is why these rubbings are now both rare and costly.

In the first picture above you can see the faint traces of the laid lines in the paper which are the result of the bamboo screen on which the paper is made.

Mike Oz

Post a Response

Responses:

Re: Temple charcoal rub - Patrick Norton - Nov 24, 2011 (11:05 AM)