Laoting clay sculpture experiences a revival

Children's toys

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, there were several workshops in villages in Laoting county. As a result production increased and prices were pushed down.

For a long period, many clay artists relied on making and selling clay figurines at meager prices to make ends meet.

Until the end of the last century, the clay figurines were the only toys of many Chinese children. At that time, even children living in cities had few toys, let alone those in rural areas.

In the past 10 years, China has become the second-largest economy in the world and is now a significant toy production and consumption market. Shopping malls are full of high-end toys, so the rustic Laoting clay figurines have gradually fallen out of favor.

However, some craftsmen, like Zhao, have chosen to continue the tradition. He said that although his children have other jobs to feed their families, he still wants to pass on his skills to them and his grandchildren.

Facing demand for sustained economic development, many regions are increasingly attaching importance to the protection and inheritance of valuable traditional cultural skills, so as to promote the development of local economies and contribute to the goal of building "a beautiful China".

Shi Tinghong, director of the Laoting Cultural Heritage Center, said that the government has encouraged the seniors to pass on traditional skills as much as they can.

Supportive policies include subsidies, encouraging folk artists to produce more items and organize more performances for local residents, and granting "Master of Intangible Cultural Heritage" certificates at national, provincial and local levels.

Shi said that the government will also step up efforts to protect and support Laoting clay figurines, and continue to develop and innovate on the basis of preserving its artistic features and combining them with modern aesthetic needs, so that this craft can better reflect the characteristics of the times.

With the support of the government, local craftsmen have begun to pay more attention to passing on their skills. In some families parents are actively encouraging their children to pick up the craft they had given up many years ago.