Chaozhou inlaid porcelain, originally emerged during the reign of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty, was fully developed in the mid- to late-Qing Dynasty. The time-honored craft was recognized as part of China’s national intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

Artisans crumble the porcelain bowls and then mount and bond the shards to create figures, flowers, birds, insects and fish, among others. The artworks, as emblems of well-being, longevity and good fortune, are usually used to decorate ancestral halls, temples, pavilions and towers.