后來到了唐朝中(zhong)(zhong)葉,一天(tian)一老硯工(gong)路經(jing)端溪(xi)(xi)時,看見有(you)(you)兩(liang)只(zhi)(zhi)仙鶴飛落溪(xi)(xi)水之(zhi)中(zhong)(zhong),久而不(bu)起,于是(shi)心生疑竇,張網撈(lao)捕,但(dan)撈(lao)起的卻是(shi)一塊石(shi)頭!不(bu)過,這(zhe)(zhe)塊石(shi)頭十(shi)分奇異,上有(you)(you)裂縫,不(bu)時發(fa)出鶴鳴(ming)聲響(xiang),老硯工(gong)順著(zhu)裂縫把奇石(shi)撬開,奇石(shi)竟(jing)一分為二(er),化作兩(liang)只(zhi)(zhi)硯臺,硯邊(bian)各有(you)(you)一只(zhi)(zhi)仙鶴佇(zhu)立(li)在蒼松之(zhi)上。消息(xi)傳開,硯工(gong)們紛(fen)紛(fen)仿制,或各展其藝,在硯臺上雕以各種圖案花紋……這(zhe)(zhe)大概就(jiu)是(shi)端硯從實用(yong)品(pin)變為實用(yong)工(gong)藝品(pin)之(zhi)始(shi)。 工(gong)藝特(te)點(dian)
端硯(yan)以石質堅(jian)實(shi)、潤滑(hua)、細(xi)膩(ni)、嬌嫩而(er)馳名于世,用(yong)端硯(yan)研(yan)墨(mo)(mo)不滯,發(fa)墨(mo)(mo)快(kuai),研(yan)出之(zhi)(zhi)墨(mo)(mo)汁細(xi)滑(hua),書寫流暢不損毫,字跡顏色經久(jiu)不變,好的端硯(yan),無論是酷暑,或是嚴(yan)冬(dong),用(yong)手(shou)按其硯(yan)心,硯(yan)心湛藍墨(mo)(mo)綠(lv),水(shui)氣(qi)久(jiu)久(jiu)不干,古人(ren)有"哈氣(qi)研(yan)墨(mo)(mo)"之(zhi)(zhi)說(shuo)。
端硯的制作過程較為復雜(za),工序(xu)繁(fan)多。主要有(you)采石、維料(liao)、制璞、雕刻、磨光、配盒等。
是制作端(duan)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)極(ji)(ji)其(qi)重要的一(yi)環,硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石(shi)有坑(keng)(keng)洞(dong)之別(bie),優劣之分。名坑(keng)(keng)質優之硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石(shi),加上制硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)高手制作,可以出產精品和(he)(he)珍品。端(duan)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)名貴與否,最基(ji)本的條件在(zai)于硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石(shi),故采(cai)(cai)石(shi)這道(dao)工(gong)序極(ji)(ji)為重要,不可本末倒置。端(duan)溪名坑(keng)(keng),自古以來都以手工(gong)開采(cai)(cai),勞(lao)動強度大,采(cai)(cai)石(shi)技(ji)術高,故有"端(duan)石(shi)一(yi)斤,價值千(qian)金"之說。 因端(duan)溪石(shi)大多(duo)不抗震,硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石(shi)開采(cai)(cai)至(zhi)今仍以手工(gong)開采(cai)(cai)為主,不能以機械(xie)代替。在(zai)開采(cai)(cai)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石(shi)中,如(ru)看不清石(shi)壁(bi),看不準石(shi)脈,就(jiu)會浪費好硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)材。特(te)別(bie)是老坑(keng)(keng)、麻子坑(keng)(keng)和(he)(he)坑(keng)(keng)仔巖(yan),有時可能整(zheng)壁(bi)石(shi)都不成材(石(shi)工(gong)謂之斷(duan)脈,即斷(duan)層),就(jiu)得將它(ta)一(yi)塊塊地鑿(zao)下(xia)來,再根據石(shi)脈的走向(xiang)(xiang)尋找(zhao)石(shi)源(yuan)。石(shi)脈(石(shi)層)的走向(xiang)(xiang)一(yi)般(ban)是斜向(xiang)(xiang)下(xia)方(fang),有時也會曲折蛇(she)行,甚至(zhi)要挖到(dao)(dao)深層才能找(zhao)到(dao)(dao)。因此(ci)采(cai)(cai)石(shi)工(gong)必須掌握(wo)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石(shi)生長的規律,順(shun)其(qi)自然(ran),按部(bu)就(jiu)班,從(cong)接縫處下(xia)鑿(zao),盡(jin)量保住硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)材的完整(zheng)。
采(cai)石(shi)工(gong)人(ren)所使用的(de)工(gong)具要(yao)因地制(zhi)宜,以鑿為(wei)主(zhu)。這些刀具長(chang)短有異,大(da)小(xiao)不一,粗細不同,但(dan)每個石(shi)工(gong)必備三四(si)十把(ba),每天工(gong)作后都要(yao)修理(li)或磨礪,所謂"工(gong)欲善(shan)其(qi)事,必先利其(qi)器"是也。
制(zhi)璞(pu)維料(liao)又稱選料(liao)制(zhi)璞(pu)。開采出(chu)來的(de)(de)(de)硯(yan)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)并不(bu)是全(quan)部都可(ke)以(yi)作(zuo)硯(yan)材,須經過(guo)(guo)篩選后(hou),再將(jiang)(jiang)其分(fen)別等(deng)級。特別好的(de)(de)(de),純凈無瑕(xia)者為特級,稍次者為甲級,再次者為乙級。將(jiang)(jiang)有瑕(xia)疵的(de)(de)(de),有裂痕的(de)(de)(de),或(huo)(huo)爛石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)皮(pi)、頂(ding)板(ban)底板(ban)……統統去掉,剩下"石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)肉"。這(zhe)個(ge)過(guo)(guo)程(cheng)首先要懂得看石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)。憑(ping)實踐經驗(yan),內行(xing)的(de)(de)(de)維料(liao)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)工能(neng)夠"看穿石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)",可(ke)以(yi)預測到(dao)表層看不(bu)到(dao)的(de)(de)(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)品(pin)花紋,如(ru)硯(yan)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)側面(mian)發現有石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)眼般的(de)(de)(de)綠點(dian),或(huo)(huo)綠色(se)的(de)(de)(de)翡翠(cui)帶,那么(me)鑿(zao)下去可(ke)能(neng)有石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)眼出(chu)現;硯(yan)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)兩側如(ru)果微(wei)呈白(bai)色(se),或(huo)(huo)白(bai)色(se)的(de)(de)(de)外圍有火捺包著,則可(ke)能(neng)隱(yin)藏魚腦凍或(huo)(huo)蕉葉白(bai)。硯(yan)工還(huan)要根(gen)據硯(yan)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)天然形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)狀用錘或(huo)(huo)鑿(zao)制(zhi)成天然形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、蛋形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、長(chang)方形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、方形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、圓形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、金鐘(zhong)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)、蘭亭式(shi)、太史式(shi)……等(deng)硯(yan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)硯(yan)式(shi)的(de)(de)(de)硯(yan)璞(pu)。制(zhi)璞(pu)者同樣必須懂得看石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi),因為要將(jiang)(jiang)硯(yan)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)最好的(de)(de)(de)地方留作(zuo)墨堂(tang)(tang)。一方端(duan)硯(yan)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)質的(de)(de)(de)優劣都以(yi)墨堂(tang)(tang)之硯(yan)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)作(zuo)評價,鑒(jian)賞石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)品(pin)花紋亦放在墨堂(tang)(tang)之部分(fen)(石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)眼除外)。
設計的(de)(de)(de)目(mu)的(de)(de)(de)是(shi)將硯(yan)石(shi)(shi)中的(de)(de)(de)瑕(xia)疵(ci)變成無瑕(xia),以達到錦上(shang)添花的(de)(de)(de)目(mu)的(de)(de)(de),增加其藝術(shu)價值(zhi),硯(yan)的(de)(de)(de)設計要(yao)求"因(yin)(yin)石(shi)(shi)構(gou)圖,因(yin)(yin)材施藝",除(chu)了傳統硯(yan)形(xing)硯(yan)式外(wai),還要(yao)充分利用天然石(shi)(shi)皮(pi),匯(hui)集文學(xue)、歷史(shi)、繪畫、書法、金(jin)石(shi)(shi)于一(yi)體,可以說是(shi)將硯(yan)升(sheng)華為(wei)一(yi)種綜合(he)性藝術(shu)品的(de)(de)(de)重要(yao)環節。2、開璞:硯(yan)石(shi)(shi)在礦坑開采后,去(qu)掉"石(shi)(shi)皮(pi)",保留"石(shi)(shi)肉",然后按質分組的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)道重要(yao)的(de)(de)(de)工(gong)序。
端(duan)硯(yan)的(de)雕(diao)(diao)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)是端(duan)硯(yan)制(zhi)作過(guo)程中極其重要(yao)的(de)工(gong)序。要(yao)使一塊天然樸實的(de)硯(yan)石(shi),成為一件精美(mei)的(de)工(gong)藝(yi)品,就需要(yao)創作設計和雕(diao)(diao)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)的(de)過(guo)程。這個過(guo)程處理得當是錦上(shang)添花,處理不(bu)當就會畫蛇添足甚至弄巧成拙。故雕(diao)(diao)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)藝(yi)人要(yao)對(dui)硯(yan)璞因材施藝(yi),因石(shi)構(gou)圖,還要(yao)根據硯(yan)璞的(de)石(shi)質,去粗存精,認(ren)真構(gou)思,并考慮題(ti)材、立意、構(gou)圖、形制(zhi)以及雕(diao)(diao)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)技(ji)法如刀法、刀路。雕(diao)(diao)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)端(duan)硯(yan)要(yao)線條清晰,玲瓏浮(fu)(fu)凸,一目了然。端(duan)硯(yan)雕(diao)(diao)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)主要(yao)有深(shen)刀(高深(shen)雕(diao)(diao))與(yu)淺刀(低浮(fu)(fu)雕(diao)(diao))雕(diao)(diao)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke),還有細刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)、線刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke),適(shi)當的(de)通(tong)雕(diao)(diao)(鏤空)。
采用什(shen)么(me)雕刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)技法和刀(dao)(dao)法,要視題材和硯(yan)形、硯(yan)式而(er)定。如要表現剛健豪放的(de)多采取以深(shen)刀(dao)(dao)雕刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)為主,適當(dang)(dang)穿插淺(qian)(qian)刀(dao)(dao)雕刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)和細(xi)(xi)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke);要表現精(jing)(jing)(jing)致古樸、細(xi)(xi)膩含蓄的(de),則以淺(qian)(qian)刀(dao)(dao)雕刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)、線(xian)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)、細(xi)(xi)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)為主。總之(zhi),細(xi)(xi)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)和線(xian)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)均屬(shu)"工精(jing)(jing)(jing)藝(yi)巧(qiao)"之(zhi)"工精(jing)(jing)(jing)"部(bu)分(fen)。細(xi)(xi)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)要求(qiu)雕刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)精(jing)(jing)(jing)細(xi)(xi),準確,生動;線(xian)刻(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)則要線(xian)條細(xi)(xi)膩、流(liu)暢,繁而(er)不亂(luan),繁簡(jian)得當(dang)(dang)。
端硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)雕刻完畢,必(bi)須配上名貴的木盒(he)(he)(he)。硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)盒(he)(he)(he)起著防塵和(he)保護(hu)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石的作用(yong),同時(shi),硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)盒(he)(he)(he)本(ben)身也是一(yi)件藝術品、裝(zhuang)飾品。硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)盒(he)(he)(he)的用(yong)料(liao)很(hen)講究,名貴的用(yong)紫檀、酸枝、楠木等硬(ying)木。硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)盒(he)(he)(he)的造型一(yi)般按硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石形狀而定。自端硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)問(wen)世以(yi)來,其盒(he)(he)(he)底部都有"四腳(jiao)(jiao)",雜形和(he)天然(ran)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)盒(he)(he)(he)的"腳(jiao)(jiao)"稱"豹腳(jiao)(jiao)",長方形硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)盒(he)(he)(he)的"四腳(jiao)(jiao)"則要(yao)與(yu)盒(he)(he)(he)形的四角(jiao)線條相吻合,成為直角(jiao)形的"腳(jiao)(jiao)"。硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)盒(he)(he)(he)之(zhi)腳(jiao)(jiao)除(chu)了起裝(zhuang)飾作用(yong)外,更(geng)重要(yao)是從實用(yong)去考慮(lv),使移動端硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)或洗滌(di)時(shi)方便。硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)與(yu)盒(he)(he)(he)必(bi)須吻合,同時(shi)要(yao)考慮(lv)到木盒(he)(he)(he)的干濕度,可能會整體收縮(suo),硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)盒(he)(he)(he)本(ben)身要(yao)稍比硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石四周寬些,以(yi)便于硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石取(qu)出(chu)洗滌(di)。總之(zhi)配上盒(he)(he)(he)子,能使端硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)顯得更(geng)加古樸凝(ning)重,更(geng)加名貴。
硯(yan)(yan)石磨光(guang)的(de)工序一般放在配盒之(zhi)后。首先用(yong)(yong)油石加幼河砂粗(cu)磨,目(mu)的(de)磨去鑿口(kou)、刀路,然后再用(yong)(yong)滑(hua)石、幼砂紙,最(zui)好是(shi)一千目(mu)的(de)水(shui)磨砂紙反復磨滑(hua),使(shi)硯(yan)(yan)臺(tai)手(shou)(shou)感(gan)光(guang)滑(hua)為止(zhi)。最(zui)后是(shi)"浸墨(mo)潤石",過一兩天后褪墨(mo)處(chu)理。硯(yan)(yan)石磨光(guang)的(de)好壞,直接影(ying)響(xiang)硯(yan)(yan)石的(de)品質及使(shi)用(yong)(yong)的(de)效(xiao)果(guo)。人們(men)在選擇端硯(yan)(yan)的(de)時候,除(chu)了以水(shui)濕石察看石色(se),鑒賞石質和石品花紋外,還常用(yong)(yong)手(shou)(shou)按摸硯(yan)(yan)堂(tang)(所謂(wei)手(shou)(shou)感(gan)),看是(shi)否細膩,潤滑(hua),這一切(qie)都與(yu)硯(yan)(yan)石的(de)磨光(guang)有直接關系。
廣東(dong)肇慶市生產的端硯,既保持了(le)傳(chuan)統工藝的傳(chuan)統文化特(te)色和地(di)方特(te)色,同時在造(zao)型、構圖(tu)、題材(cai)、立意(yi)上又有新(xin)的突破,創造(zao)了(le)端硯實用之外的新(xin)藝術意(yi)境(jing),如端州(zhou)古(gu)邵圖(tu)大端硯,巧妙地(di)將(jiang)古(gu)端州(zhou)縮(suo)龍成(cheng)寸,又如仙境(jing)立體(ti)雕(diao)刻大端硯,把(ba)端硯雕(diao)刻成(cheng)立體(ti)的一(yi)條鱷魚、一(yi)只鳴蟬、一(yi)堆瓜果、一(yi)群仙人,并巧妙地(di)將(jiang)硯池收藏(zang)其中(zhong),看似雕(diao)塑、古(gu)董,但(dan)又可磨墨(mo)揮毫,令(ling)人嘆為(wei)觀止。
端硯(yan)(yan)具(ju)有很高的藝術價值、收藏價值和(he)人文價值,在新的歷史(shi)條件(jian)下(xia),機械生產沖擊著(zhu)手工(gong)端硯(yan)(yan)制(zhi)作,傳統記憶的傳承(cheng)方式導致(zhi)工(gong)匠后繼乏(fa)人,只有認真解決(jue)了(le)這些問(wen)題,才(cai)能切(qie)實保護和(he)延續(xu)傳統端硯(yan)(yan)制(zhi)作技(ji)藝。