Palace lantern

1. In 1279, a sea warfare between Song and Yuan broke out in Jiangmen, which changed the dynasty, since that the southern Song dynasty perished. After the war, the artists fled to Jiangmen coastal area. One of the artists called Li and his descendants constantly made palace lanterns. Around the years of Guangxu, one of his descendant called Li Xiyan found an industry of palace lantern in Jiangmen.
2. In 1902, Jiangmen was set of commercial port. With the gradually flourishing commercial and the frequently diplomacy, the industry of palace lantern bloomed.
3. In 1930, the son of Li Xiyan called Li Fa inherited property and made the palace lantern reborn. In the mid 1940s, due to the long-term civil war, Li Fa's wife worried that the native cultural heritage would gradually become extinct. She came to Beijing to visit the forbidden city in two years, depicting the palace accessories with drawing pictures directly, and recorded comments.
4. After the 1940s, Mr. Li's business gradually shifted to Hong Kong. He transform the image which was drawn by his wife into modern lanterns. In 1949, the palace lantern obtained the structure patent of the United Kingdom, and was the first patent in the history of China's lighting industry.
5. The palace lanterns are different from any fixtures. It is the product of lighting and the perfect combination of arts and crafts, which is unique in the world. The palace lanterns have practical value, Oriental art and national style in China, it is rich in culture and art appreciation value.[1]

height:48 cm, Odalisque:44.5 cm, weight:15.85 kg.
The body was golden and it looks splendid and gorgeous. Gilding bronze has appeared in the Warring States period. After the gilding treatment of bronze, its surface will be beautiful, and it also plays a very important role in the protection for the bronze.

There are nine engraved inscriptions on some parts of the lamp body, a total of 65 words. Around the upper bottom of the lamp holder was engraved with the inscription"长信尚浴，容一升少半升，重六斤，百八十九，今内者卧" (some Chinese characters). The handwriting of the inscription is too illegible, it may have been carved later, so the "长信尚浴" does not seem to be the first owner of the lamp. The original owner should be first carved, and the handwriting is neatly, so the six parts of the lamp body which was carved with "阳信家" illustrated that the lamp is originally belongs to the "阳信家". There was "长信"(Changxin)on the lamp, used for residence of Dou empress dowager, named "Changxin Palace lanterns".

Changxin Palace lantern changed the style of the old bronze vessels which was mystery, the whole shape and the style of decoration seemed to stretch freely, light and magnificent. It is a practical and beautiful lamp treasures. The maid in the statue is hollow, her right arm and empty sleeves form a copper lamp shade can freely open and close. The burning dust would not disturb to the surrounding environment, it would deposit in the lamp. The concept of environmental protection of the ancient Chinese people's wisdom. the Changxin Palace lantern was known as "China's first light". Former U.S. Secretary of state Kissinger made a trip to China to visit Changxin Palace lanterns, and laments: " Chinese have understood the environmental protection sine 2000 years ago, it is really great."
Changxin Palace lantern has been regarded as an important representative of the pinnacle of national arts and crafts. This is not only because of its rarity, the one and only, but also in its exquisite production process and unique artistic conception. Experts on archaeology and history of metallurgy agree that the exquisite design and production process of the lamp are high level, leading the palace lantern in the Han Dynasty. In 1993 it was identified as a national treasure heritage.

Luoyang palace lantern has a long history; it was created in Eastern Han Dynasty, flourishing in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. According to legend, after the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Han Dynasty emperor Liu Xiu, the capital of Luoyang, in order to celebrate this achievement, the emperor commanded that the palace are compelled to decorate with all kinds of beautiful lantern and hold a big banquets to reward the people who follow him to establish the country. Later, the technology of palace lantern was introduced to the folk. Thus, The name "palace lantern" was born. On January 15 of the first year of emperor Suiyangdi, the palace lantern scattered throughout the city, decorating the city half a months. After the sui and tang dynasties, on the Lantern Festival, all the family hung their treasure lamp highly, wherever is light and bright. The custom spread to the whole country and overseas.The Song Dynasty, Luoyang suffered from wars over and over again, the Lantern Festival gradually lost its presence, but the technology of lantern production has been passed down to now.

This painting, by an imperial court painter in 1485, depicts the Chenghua Emperor enjoying the festivities with families in the Forbidden City during the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival. It includes acrobatic performances, operas, magic shows and setting off firecrackers.