The Applied Study on the Use of Huizhou Three-Carving Motifs in Ceramic Tableware Design

Abstract

This study takes the Huizhou Three Carvings culture of Wuyuan as its primary source of inspiration. As a significant treasure of traditional Chinese architectural art, Huizhou Three Carvings—comprising brick carving, stone carving, and wood carving—are renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship, yet they currently face challenges in contemporary inheritance and application. Through a systematic analysis of the cultural elements of Huizhou Three Carvings, this research extracts four core design dimensions: first, “pattern narration,” which reflects seasonal cycles and cultural symbolism embedded in carved motifs; second, “material dialogue,” highlighting the artistic interaction among brick, stone, wood, and ceramic materials; third, “craft inheritance,” which embodies the essence of traditional carving techniques; and fourth, “functional transformation,” which enables a creative shift from architectural ornamentation to functional tableware. Based on these traditional elements, this study develops a modern ceramic tableware series. By analyzing contemporary trends in the ceramic tableware market and the current development of intangible cultural heritage-inspired creative products, representative motifs from Huizhou wood carving, brick carving, and stone carving are extracted and innovatively integrated into tableware design through a four-season thematic system. While preserving the cultural essence of traditional craftsmanship, the design emphasizes compatibility with modern aesthetics and practical use, thereby revitalizing intangible cultural heritage in everyday life. This design practice not only provides new perspectives for the contemporary transformation of intangible cultural heritage, but also explores feasible pathways for the development of traditional cultural creative products.