據(ju)《東陽(yang)縣志》記載(zai),清乾隆(long)年間(jian),東陽(yang)400余名能(neng)工(gong)巧匠進京(jing)修繕宮殿(dian)及(ji)雕制龍床、龍椅、案幾(ji)、宮燈等(deng)家具器物(wu)。有(you)東陽(yang)工(gong)匠許氏,少時從藝(yi),雕工(gong)嫻(xian)熟,技法超(chao)群,應選(xuan)入(ru)宮,于養心殿(dian)造辦處(chu)42坊之一木作從事。
一(yi)(yi)時,能工(gong)巧(qiao)匠匯聚(ju)云(yun)(yun)集,前(qian)宮后殿(dian)珍寶(bao)器(qi)物,鼎盛(sheng)非常(chang)。其間,工(gong)匠許氏制作一(yi)(yi)張(zhang)紫檀木雕(diao)八寶(bao)云(yun)(yun)蝠紋(wen)“水波(bo)云(yun)(yun)龍”寶(bao)座,以難度大的(de)高浮雕(diao)技法刻畫,將游龍表現的(de)栩栩如生,整體“水波(bo)云(yun)(yun)龍”圖(tu)紋(wen)莊嚴偉(wei)岸(an),氣勢磅礴,所做(zuo)器(qi)具無(wu)出其右(you)者。乾隆見之,喜(xi)愛不已,命人置寶(bao)座于養心殿(dian)西(xi)暖(nuan)閣。
逢(feng)大(da)學時(shi)紀(ji)(ji)曉(xiao)嵐覲見。乾(qian)隆讓紀(ji)(ji)曉(xiao)嵐賞“水波(bo)云(yun)龍”寶座。紀(ji)(ji)昀道(dao):此物厚重碩大(da),氣魄非凡。“水波(bo)”一靜一動(dong),如聞江河(he)之(zhi)(zhi)聲,“云(yun)龍”惟(wei)妙惟(wei)肖,仿佛騰之(zhi)(zhi)欲出(chu),雕藝工法細膩,嚴謹大(da)氣,心思縝密,化技宜(yi)(yi)理(li),非常人(ren)所能(neng)。云(yun)龍,天之(zhi)(zhi)子(zi),集(ji)智慧(hui)、尊貴一身(shen),顯帝王(wang)之(zhi)(zhi)勢;水紋,臣民(min),地(di)(di)(di)之(zhi)(zhi)輔,吉祥(xiang)亨(heng)通八寶云(yun)蝠紋,含福蘊綿長。而今,圣上(shang)承天地(di)(di)(di)之(zhi)(zhi)道(dao),輔相(xiang)(xiang)天地(di)(di)(di)之(zhi)(zhi)宜(yi)(yi),順其自然,民(min)安泰(tai)和,國運昌盛之(zhi)(zhi)象也。若以(yi)《易經》演算(suan),天地(di)(di)(di)相(xiang)(xiang)交(jiao),上(shang)下互通,吉祥(xiang)亨(heng)達,曰地(di)(di)(di)天泰(tai),泰(tai)卦也。
乾隆(long)聽之大悅,贊其曰“技(ji)法精(jing)煉(lian),巧(qiao)奪(duo)天工(gong)(gong),運用之妙(miao),存乎一心”,欽(qin)賜(si)工(gong)(gong)匠(jiang)許氏為御用工(gong)(gong)匠(jiang)。宮(gong)中二十載,工(gong)(gong)匠(jiang)許氏所(suo)作紫檀、海黃等木器,有屏風、龍柜、大案、桌椅、掛屏以(yi)及(ji)各(ge)種精(jing)美的小作陳設,不(bu)能數計。工(gong)(gong)匠(jiang)許氏年老請辭還鄉,乾隆(long)為獎(jiang)賞許氏多年宮(gong)廷(ting)木作之功,御筆親書(shu)“許氏工(gong)(gong)藝”賜(si)予工(gong)(gong)匠(jiang)以(yi)示恩典。
爾今,“許氏工藝”第12代傳人(ren)許貴祿先生,從(cong)小受家(jia)庭(ting)環境熏陶,耳濡目染,對紅木(mu)家(jia)具(ju)情有獨(du)鐘,立志(zhi)于(yu)雕(diao)刻(ke)藝術的(de)事(shi)業人(ren)生,專注于(yu)將紅木(mu)家(jia)具(ju)文(wen)(wen)化發揚光大。許貴祿先生在繼(ji)承(cheng)傳統(tong)文(wen)(wen)化載體的(de)基礎(chu)上,以濃郁的(de)人(ren)文(wen)(wen)理(li)念,高雅的(de)品(pin)味,兼收并蓄,融合創新,取大學士紀昀(yun)“水(shui)波云龍”賞析之卦語,創“地天泰”紅木(mu)家(jia)具(ju)品(pin)牌。
為(wei)再現(xian)八(ba)寶云蝠紋“水(shui)波云龍”寶座之(zhi)經(jing)典(dian),展(zhan)現(xian)東陽木雕“許氏工(gong)藝(yi)”之(zhi)絕技,由許貴祿(lu)先生帶(dai)領,匯聚東陽50多位高(gao)級匠師(shi),精選百(bai)余噸木材,歷經(jing)四(si)年,純手工(gong)打(da)造的大型沙發套裝(zhuang)組合“盛(sheng)世年華(hua)”在(zai)2012年中山紅木家具文化節上綻放問世。