早在先秦時代,云南(nan)就以銅(tong)器(qi)制(zhi)(zhi)作而聞名于世。秦漢時期,朱(zhu)提、堂(tang)瑯(今云南(nan)昭(zhao)通市、東川(chuan)縣、會澤縣)等(deng)地(di)生產的“朱(zhu)提洗”、“堂(tang)瑯洗”等(deng)銅(tong)器(qi)行銷各地(di),為(wei)時所重。至明代,云南(nan)銅(tong)器(qi)匠師采用東川(chuan)附近(jin)的天(tian)然斑銅(tong)礦石,用冷鍛(duan)成型(xing)的方法制(zhi)(zhi)作成人物(wu)、動物(wu)及(ji)仿古的瓶(ping)、鼎、爐、罐、爵等(deng)斑銅(tong)制(zhi)(zhi)品,為(wei)銅(tong)器(qi)制(zhi)(zhi)作開(kai)創了一(yi)條新路。
銅(tong)中摻雜進金(jin)、銀等其他未能(neng)全然融合的金(jin)屬,會(hui)出現(xian)(xian)一(yi)種特(te)殊的輝斑(ban)(ban)(ban),形成斑(ban)(ban)(ban)銅(tong)。斑(ban)(ban)(ban)銅(tong)有深藍、紫金(jin)、赤紅等色,其中最(zui)耀眼的是金(jin)黃色。匠師們(men)用斑(ban)(ban)(ban)銅(tong)制(zhi)作(zuo)器物(wu),表(biao)面拋光后,古(gu)銅(tong)色的底子上會(hui)顯出斑(ban)(ban)(ban)彩熠(yi)(yi)熠(yi)(yi)的天(tian)然效果,且各器物(wu)的斑(ban)(ban)(ban)影無(wu)一(yi)雷同。斑(ban)(ban)(ban)銅(tong)制(zhi)作(zuo)技藝(yi)是云南獨特(te)的傳統手工藝(yi),具有很(hen)高的歷史、文(wen)化價值(zhi)。保(bao)護并發展(zhan)斑(ban)(ban)(ban)銅(tong)制(zhi)作(zuo)技藝(yi)對于展(zhan)現(xian)(xian)民族文(wen)化創造力具有重要意(yi)義。
斑銅制(zhi)作技藝是(shi)2008年經國(guo)務院批準列入(ru)第二(er)批國(guo)家級非物質文化遺產名錄的一(yi)種傳統(tong)技藝。