The young tin carving couple works on a phoenix sculpture at their studio in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo/taihainet.com]

A young artist couple in Xiamen, Fujian province, have combined traditional tin carving techniques with modern design to carry on traditional tin carving culture, according to local media reports July 17.

With tinkling sounds coming from a quaint house built in southern Fujian style, a newly open tin carving studio founded by the couple – Zheng Tiansi and his wife Zhuang Yaxin – comes in sight. The studio is where this couple has taken on a representative project for intangible cultural heritage in Fujian province.

Zheng Tiansi and his wife Zhuang Yaxin are both excellent young tin carving artisans in Xiamen, a beautiful coastal city. Having learned from a folk tin carving master in Quanzhou, Fujian, and been inspired by a master from Taiwan, the talented couple have combined traditional tin carving techniques with modern art modes.

The couple's creative artworks have won a couple of national arts and crafts awards and successfully accomplished tin carving inheritance.

Zhuang said that it took nearly six months to finish a recent satisfying work – a tin phoenix sculpture. The lifelike sculpture was created by traditional tin carving techniques and embossing skills.

Tin carving in Tongan, Xiamen, featuring unique traditional handicraft techniques flourished in the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1127) dynasties. Trading tin carving sculptures originated during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).