Horology Planet Exhibition Series — 22
In October 2026, Beijing becomes a meeting point for Chinese imperial aesthetics, traditional craftsmanship, and contemporary design. Held at the National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing), the “Forbidden City Divine Craft” Chinese Imperial Aesthetics & Contemporary Creation Exhibition and the “Horology Planet” International Creative Exhibition bring together a range of creative works that explore the connections between Eastern cultural heritage and modern craftsmanship.
The exhibition is about more than the objects on display. It also asks how traditional art forms can continue to evolve, finding new relevance through modern materials, innovative design, and precision engineering. From decorative techniques rooted in imperial workshops to the intricacies of independent watchmaking, the works on show offer different perspectives on how the past can inform the present.
As part of this exhibition series, Horology Planet takes a closer look at the participating watch brands and the ideas behind their creations.
Xiong’s Enamel: A Family Legacy in Chinese Cloisonné
The history of Xiong’s Enamel can be traced to the enamel-making traditions of the late Qing dynasty and the craftsmanship associated with the imperial workshops. Across three generations, the Xiong family has preserved and developed these techniques, passing down the knowledge required to transform precious metals and colored enamel into intricate works of art.
In 1969, the second generation established an enamel workshop known as the Dianzhuang Filigree Factory in Tongzhou, Beijing. Building on this family tradition, Xiong Songtao, a third-generation practitioner and nationally recognized master of arts and crafts, founded the Xiong’s Enamel brand in 2008. The move marked an important step beyond the family's earlier focus on commissioned manufacturing, including enamel dials for high-end watches, toward the creation of original artistic works and collectible objects.
At the heart of the brand's practice is silver-bodied cloisonné enamel, an innovative development of the traditional technique, which has historically been associated with copper substrates. Fine metal wires are applied to the surface to form intricate outlines, which are then filled with colored enamel. In Xiong’s Enamel's work, the silver substrate and exceptionally fine wirework allow for a refined interplay of color, light, and detail. The gold- and silver-toned outlines, luminous enamel surfaces, and carefully composed patterns create a distinctive sense of depth.
The brand also develops its own enamel color formulations, drawing on traditional imperial recipes and incorporating powdered natural minerals such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, and agate. This approach connects the material language of traditional Chinese decorative arts with contemporary experimentation.
Its creations span enamel watch dials, jewelry, collectible artworks, and decorative vessels. For the “Forbidden City Divine Craft” exhibition, four works reveal different aspects of this practice: the continuous symbolism of entwined flowers, the expansive landscape of a hundred horses, the harmonious pairing of birds, and the exuberant abundance of a floral treasure box. Together, they demonstrate how traditional motifs can be reinterpreted through the demanding craft of silver-bodied cloisonné.
Enamelled Vase with Entwined Flowers and Baoxiang Flowers
The Enamelled Vase with Entwined Flowers and Baoxiang Flowers brings together two enduring motifs in Chinese decorative art: the entwined lotus and the baoxiang flower, an elaborate floral design associated with auspiciousness and ornamental richness. Crafted by Xiong Songtao, a master of Chinese arts and crafts, the vase combines a restrained silhouette with an intricate surface pattern created through silver-bodied cloisonné enamel.
Fine silver wires trace the flowing stems and layered petals, forming a dense yet continuous composition around the vessel. The entwined pattern is also known as wanshou teng, or the vine of longevity, and its unbroken structure conveys continuity, enduring vitality, and the wish for lasting good fortune. The baoxiang flower, with its richly stylized petals, adds a sense of ceremonial elegance and enduring beauty.
The contrast between the vase's solid form and its elaborate ornamentation is central to its appeal. Rather than relying on the complexity of the silhouette, the work allows the surface craftsmanship to carry the visual narrative. The silver framework defines each motif, while the enamel brings color and depth to the composition.
Through the precision of its wirework and the continuity of its decorative pattern, the vase reflects the patience and technical control required by traditional cloisonné. Its design draws on a vocabulary of auspicious Chinese motifs while presenting them in a collectible object intended for contemporary appreciation.
Limited to nine pieces, the vase stands as an expression of Xiong’s Enamel's approach to traditional craftsmanship: preserving the symbolism of historical decorative art while allowing material and technique to speak with renewed clarity.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 16.5 × 16.5 × 21 cm
- Materials: Silver, enamel
- Technique: Silver-bodied cloisonné enamel
- Artist: Xiong Songtao, Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts
- Edition: Limited to 9 pieces
Paired Pots with Hundreds of Spirited Horses
The Paired Pots with Hundreds of Spirited Horses presents an expansive scene of horses in a peaceful natural setting. Crafted by Xiong Songtao using silver-bodied cloisonné enamel, the pair combines the decorative richness of traditional Chinese enamelwork with the visual language of landscape painting.
Across the vessels, fine silver wires outline horses in a variety of poses. Some stand alert, others rest, play, or graze, creating a sense of movement and ease rather than rigid formality. In the background, distant mountains emerge softly, while upright pines and a clear lake establish a tranquil landscape. The interplay between the animals and their surroundings evokes a world in which strength and vitality exist in harmony with nature.
A particularly distinctive feature lies beneath the enamel decoration. Irregular textures are engraved by hand into the silver body, giving the surface greater depth and allowing the finished composition to appear more open and luminous. This subtle relief helps distinguish the landscape's different planes, reinforcing the impression of distance and three-dimensionality.
The horse has long occupied an important place in Chinese visual culture, symbolizing vigor, perseverance, and forward momentum. Here, the numerous horses are not simply repeated decorative motifs; their varied postures create a lively collective scene. The pair invites the viewer to explore its details gradually, discovering different gestures and interactions across the surface.
At 37.5 cm tall, each pot offers a substantial canvas for this intricate narrative. The matched forms also allow the composition to be appreciated as a coordinated pair, reinforcing its character as a decorative centerpiece.
Limited to three pairs, this work demonstrates how silver-bodied cloisonné can move beyond repeating patterns to create a richly layered pictorial scene, combining fine metalwork, enamel color, and hand-engraved texture.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 30 × 30 × 37.5 cm
- Materials: Silver, enamel
- Technique: Silver-bodied cloisonné enamel
- Artist: Xiong Songtao, Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts
- Edition: Limited to 3 pairs
Paired Enamelled Vases with Birds in Harmony
The Paired Enamelled Vases with Birds in Harmony explores the Chinese artistic tradition of expressing harmony and companionship through paired forms and auspicious imagery. Created by Xu Siqing, a first-grade master of arts and crafts in Beijing, the set combines the visual language of blue-and-white porcelain with the intricate techniques of silver-bodied cloisonné enamel.
The two vases feature different traditional silhouettes: the meiping, or plum vase, with its balanced shoulders and narrow neck, and the yuhuchunping, a pear-shaped vase with a graceful, flowing profile. Their contrasting forms create a complementary pair, while the decorative treatment unites them through a shared palette of blue and white.
Inspired by blue-and-white porcelain decorated with phoenix motifs, the design translates the elegance of painted ceramic ornament into the medium of enamel. Fine metal wires define the decorative outlines, while carefully selected enamel colors establish the patterns and bring the imagery to life. The result preserves the clarity and freshness associated with blue-and-white porcelain while introducing the distinctive depth and brilliance of cloisonné.
The paired composition carries its own symbolism. Birds represented in harmonious association evoke companionship, mutual understanding, and a life lived in balance. Together with the coordinated vase forms, these motifs create a decorative statement rooted in traditional Chinese ideas of concord and auspicious relationships.
The restrained blue-and-white palette also sets this work apart from more exuberantly colored enamel objects. Its visual appeal lies in the balance between intricate craftsmanship and a sense of lightness, allowing the patterns to remain clear and elegant across the curved surfaces.
Limited to nine pairs, the set demonstrates how an established visual tradition can be translated into a different material and craft process without losing its defining character. It is a meeting of porcelain-inspired aesthetics, silver wirework, and the enduring symbolism of harmony.
Specifications
- Vase 1 Dimensions: 12.5 × 12.5 × 26 cm
- Vase 2 Dimensions: 9.5 × 9.5 × 22 cm
- Materials: Silver, enamel
- Technique: Silver-bodied cloisonné enamel
- Artist: Xu Siqing, First-Grade Master of Arts and Crafts in Beijing
- Edition: Limited to 9 pairs
Floral Splendor Lidded Box
The Floral Splendor Lidded Box celebrates the abundance and beauty of the natural world through an exceptionally rich composition of flowers. Created by Xiong Songtao and Xiong Linlin, the work draws on the Chinese decorative tradition of depicting flowers in profusion, using the language of botanical variety to express prosperity, beauty, and domestic harmony.
Peonies, roses, lotuses, lilies, chrysanthemums, and other flowers fill the composition, creating a continuous floral scene in which no single bloom dominates. The arrangement conveys the sense of a garden in full flower, with different forms and colors contributing to an overall impression of abundance.
The technical achievement lies in the extensive range of enamel colors used to realize the design. Up to 160 enamel shades bring subtle distinctions to the petals and foliage, allowing the flowers to retain their individual character while forming a unified composition. Each area of color must be carefully contained within the fine metal outlines, demanding considerable precision and control from the artisan.
The silver body provides the foundation for this elaborate surface, while the cloisonné technique gives the floral imagery a distinct structure and clarity. The contrast between the fine wirework and the varied enamel colors creates a richly detailed object that rewards close inspection.
The lidded form adds a practical dimension to its artistic character, making the work both a decorative vessel and a collectible object. Its floral imagery carries familiar auspicious associations in Chinese culture: prosperity and honor, beauty and abundance, and harmony within the home.
Limited to nine pieces, the Floral Splendor Lidded Box demonstrates the expressive potential of silver-bodied cloisonné when applied to a large, continuous decorative composition. Through its remarkable color range and intricate floral detailing, it brings the richness of a flourishing garden into a finely crafted object.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 29.5 × 29.5 × 17 cm
- Materials: Silver, enamel
- Technique: Silver-bodied cloisonné enamel
- Artists: Xiong Songtao, Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts; Xiong Linlin
- Edition: Limited to 9 pieces
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Exhibition Guide
- Exhibition Name: “Forbidden City Divine Craft” Chinese Imperial Aesthetics & Contemporary Creation Exhibition, and the “Horology Planet” International Creative Exhibition
- Opening Date: October 23, 2026
- Exhibition Dates: October 23, 2026 – December 16, 2026
- Venue: 3rd Floor Art Space, Building D7, National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing), No. 3 Jinhang East Road, Shunyi District, Beijing
- Organizer: National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing)
- Academic Support: Research Group on Qing Dynasty Court Craftsmanship Inheritance Examples, The Palace Museum; Watchina
- Executive Curator: Horology Planet
