For 54 years, Zhang Tonglu has been mastering the Byzantine art of cloisonne, using enamel and ware metals to decorate vases, plates and other objet d'art.
Zhang has top ranking among just five national-level masters of the art form.
Now he is being honoured with his first public exhibition in Hong Kong.
The 71-year-old Beijing master came to public notice with his creation Bird Cup in 1987, which makes use of the bird's feather patterns. Previously, artworks could only be made in the shape of vases and jars.
Zhang's breakthrough meant enhanced flexibility in production, allowing many different styles to be created.
He said: "In the past, the cloisonne wares were only vertically symmetrical, but mine could be made in balancing symmetrical, which means although the two sides are not of the same shape, the whole ware is a balanced one."
Zhang said he was skilled in the whole process of making cloisonne artworks - designing, model hammering, filigree nipping, soldering, enameling, heating, polishing and gilding. But he said designing was the most challenging.