Chapter 144 An Outline
If it were his own student, he would have already been scolded by Yao Hansong three times.
Unfortunately, no, at least not now.
Furthermore, Lin Sicheng had left a deep impression on him last time: he could deduce technical difficulties and even nearly lost skills based solely on literature and paper data, which greatly shocked Yao Hansong.
Another half month has passed, and two more genuine artifacts have been found, and they are highly related. Perhaps we'll uncover some clues.
After some thought, Yao Hansong nodded: "Okay, let's give it a try... Zhang Ping, notify the lab."
Zhang Ping walked away quickly, and Lin Sicheng put the lacquer box and the gold crown back in.
The teacher and student each carried one item and followed Yao Hansong up to the fourth floor.
"Xiaolin, how do you plan to try it?"
Lin Sicheng smiled modestly: "I only did some theoretical research, not much practical experience. Let's start from scratch."
"Yes!" Yao Hansong nodded. "Be down-to-earth and take steady steps!"
Lin Sicheng said respectfully, "Professor Yao is right!"
Wang Qizhi secretly curled his lip: Lin Sicheng is trying to act young again?
Just like at school, Shang Yan asked: Lin Sicheng, I've never seen you touch up the glaze, but you've just started making multicolored porcelain. Are you sure you can do it?
Lin Sicheng: I've only done some theoretical research, but that's okay, can I give it a try first?
As a result, after trying it, a large blue and white porcelain jar with dragon pattern was repaired.
Now, when I think back to the moment the large jar was repaired, Shang Yan's speechless and dumbfounded expression seems vivid in my mind.
After a moment's thought, the group went to the gold craftsmanship research room on the fourth floor.
The place is large and has a lot of equipment. It has all the necessary tools and instruments for smelting, forging, engraving, traditional crafts, precision machining, and even research and testing.
The staff was also well-equipped, including carving, rubbing, casting, chiseling, lacquering, and auxiliary personnel, totaling about ten people.
Wang Qizhi was very self-aware; after giving a brief introduction, he stepped aside and became invisible.
Lin Sicheng shook hands with each person, his waist slightly bent, a faint smile on his face. He treated everyone as a teacher, addressing them with the respectful "you" (formal).
"Professor Huang (Laboratory Director), Professor Yao and Professor Chen (Gold and Silver Group Leader) specifically mentioned you last time, asking me to learn more from you..."
"Hello, Teacher Liu, please give me your guidance!"
"Thank you for your help today, Teacher Bai!"
"Teacher Jiang, you'll have a long day later!"
After thanking everyone individually, Lin Sicheng added with a smile, "Gentlemen, please forgive me if my words are offensive later. I apologize to you all afterwards!"
Huang Zhifeng was still thinking: He didn't know if this kid was as capable as Yao Ke (Yao Hansong) and Chen Zu said, but he was quite polite and had a sweet tongue.
Furthermore, since it's all for research purposes, and Yao Ke has asked them to assist, there's no reason to offend them.
Of course, they will definitely point out any problems with the experimental procedures or if the operation is not in accordance with regulations. It is even possible that they will stop the experiment.
Thinking it over, Huang Zhifeng smiled and encouraged him again: "Xiao Lin, don't be nervous!"
"Okay, Professor Huang!"
Lin Sicheng smiled, then took out the lacquer box and the flat bronze mirror he had bought earlier, and looked around: "Teachers, let's start with the lacquer box!"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Then each group prepare."
"Everything's ready! Young man, don't be nervous, just tell me if we're going to start or not?"
Someone responded, and a burst of good-natured laughter echoed from the lab.
"Open it, I'll open it now!"
Lin Sicheng smiled and distributed the experimental plan. Yao Hansong and Huang Zhifeng also asked for a copy.
Looking down again:
1. Ceramic molds, wooden molds... 2. Mounting blanks... 3. Lacquer paste... 4. Coarse ash, medium ash, fine ash...
V. Primer, base coat, color coat... VI. Gold inlay... VII. Carved lacquer... VIII. Mother-of-pearl inlay...
Holding the thin piece of paper, Huang Zhifeng became increasingly suspicious as he read on: Was this an experimental plan?
The material handling section is fine; the requirements are written in detail. The mold data requirements are also clear, such as the material and degreasing specifications.
But going further down, when it comes to the craftsmanship, starting with the mounting process, the amount decreases and decreases.
Especially the last three points: these are the core of the inlaid gold technique and also the most difficult part. But are there absolutely no details about the specific procedures, processes, or data involved?
It can't be because they're afraid of the technology being leaked, right?
Definitely not, because there's no need to: this isn't a lost craft; the provincial museum has already thoroughly studied it. Whether it's ancient documents or research data, the provincial museum has it all.
So, it's more like... this child hasn't learned yet?
If you haven't even learned it yet, what process are you trying to deduce?
Huang Zhifeng looked at it again, and then glanced at Yao Hansong.
Yao Hansong pondered for a moment.
If you ask him to be honest, it's normal that Lin Sicheng didn't learn the core technology.
Just to give you an example: the gold-plated parts, that is, the patterns on the lacquer box, use the iron-wire drawing and gossamer drawing techniques from traditional Chinese painting: the folds of the figures' clothing are made with continuous straight lines 0.3mm wide, and the veins of the flowers and leaves are made with curves 0.1mm wide, which are engraved into the lacquer layer to a depth of about 150μm.
It's all micron-level work; without eight to ten years of experience in traditional Chinese painting and carving, he couldn't even draw the mold lines, let alone carve them...
Thinking it over, Yao Hansong glanced at the stage and explained, "Xiao Lin is self-taught!"
"What?"
Huang Zhifeng froze, then suddenly turned his head as if to say: Aren't you his teacher?
Wang Qizhi's face twitched: Are you guys ever going to stop? Is this never going to end?
Noticing Wang Qizhi's unpleasant expression, Huang Zhifeng quickly turned around and stared at the paper again: it meant that he hadn't learned the core technology yet.
"And what about the preceding steps? Just mounting, lacquering, and painting?"
Yao Hansong thought for a moment: "He should know these things!"
"Self-taught?"
Yao Hansong nodded: "Self-taught!"
As we discussed last time, Lin Sicheng's upbringing is no secret: his grandfather was a professor of ceramic conservation, and he learned some appreciation and ceramic restoration techniques from a young age.
Then I went to university and systematically came into contact with other restoration techniques. But with university courses, I only gained some theoretical knowledge at best, not even scratching the surface.
Even now, Lin Sicheng hasn't graduated yet, and he's found a teacher, but the teacher is completely irrelevant. If he doesn't rely on self-study, what will he rely on?
Having worked together for decades, Yao Hansong only needs a glance for Huang Zhifeng to get a general idea of what's going on.
It is precisely because we can guess that we cannot understand it.
He believes in theoretical learning. He has taught students with good comprehension and memory before.
However, as the saying goes, "theory is all talk and no action": there is a world of difference between teaching theory and actual practice.
At Lin Sicheng's age, starting at fifteen or sixteen, mastering the basics of mounting (the frame of a lacquer box, made of ramie cloth), mixing lacquer, and reinforcing with ramie shell is enough to earn him the title of genius. Let alone the later techniques of lacquering and gilding?
Subconsciously, Huang Zhifeng glanced at Lin Sicheng on the stage again: perhaps he hadn't even mastered these skills yet?
After a moment's thought, he sighed and said, "Shall we take a look first?"
Yao Hansong nodded: "Of course!"
It's just a trial run; let's just make sure nothing goes wrong...
The two exchanged questions and answers, and Wang Qizhi knew exactly what was going on, but he didn't explain.
According to the original plan, he and Lin Sicheng would be busy for at least two to three days when they arrived at the Municipal Museum, and they wouldn't have time to come to the Provincial Museum until the earliest next Monday or Tuesday.
But plans can't keep up with changes: Lin Sicheng found a jade artifact, which put the Municipal Bureau on high alert. They had no time to appraise the jade and jadeite.
Since the items were readily available, the teacher and student discussed it and decided to come to the Provincial Museum first to discuss the application for World Heritage status for gold craftsmanship.
It would be even better if we could use the provincial museum's most advanced and well-equipped laboratory to go through the process again.
Therefore, that so-called experimental plan was just an outline that Lin Sicheng drafted on the spot before leaving home, out of a "let's take a chance" mentality.
Unexpectedly, he agreed after only mentioning Professor Yao?
But I can't say it, otherwise it would be somewhat disrespectful, or even mean I look down on the provincial museum.
After a moment of reflection, Wang Qizhi sat quietly in the corner, his eyes fixed on Lin Sicheng on the stage.
Fabric mounting, plastic base, plastering, paint mixing, polishing...
Lin Sicheng proceeded in an orderly manner, but more and more people gathered around him.
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