據《東(dong)陽縣志》記載,清(qing)乾隆年間,東(dong)陽400余(yu)名能工巧匠進京修繕宮殿及雕制(zhi)龍床、龍椅、案幾、宮燈等家具(ju)器物。有(you)東(dong)陽工匠許氏,少時從藝(yi),雕工嫻熟,技(ji)法超群,應選(xuan)入(ru)宮,于(yu)養心殿造(zao)辦(ban)處42坊(fang)之一木作(zuo)從事。
一時,能工巧(qiao)匠匯聚云(yun)集,前(qian)宮后殿(dian)珍寶(bao)器(qi)物,鼎盛非(fei)常(chang)。其(qi)間,工匠許氏制(zhi)作一張紫(zi)檀木雕(diao)八寶(bao)云(yun)蝠(fu)紋(wen)“水(shui)波云(yun)龍(long)(long)”寶(bao)座(zuo),以難度大的高(gao)浮雕(diao)技法(fa)刻(ke)畫,將游龍(long)(long)表現的栩栩如生,整體(ti)“水(shui)波云(yun)龍(long)(long)”圖(tu)紋(wen)莊嚴偉岸,氣勢磅礴(bo),所做器(qi)具無(wu)出其(qi)右者。乾隆見(jian)之,喜愛不(bu)已,命人置寶(bao)座(zuo)于養(yang)心殿(dian)西(xi)暖閣。
逢大學(xue)時(shi)紀曉嵐覲(jin)見。乾隆讓紀曉嵐賞“水(shui)(shui)波(bo)云(yun)(yun)龍”寶座。紀昀道(dao):此物厚重碩大,氣魄非(fei)凡。“水(shui)(shui)波(bo)”一(yi)靜一(yi)動(dong),如(ru)聞江河之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)聲,“云(yun)(yun)龍”惟妙惟肖,仿佛騰之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)欲出,雕(diao)藝工法細(xi)膩,嚴謹大氣,心思(si)縝密(mi),化技宜(yi)理(li),非(fei)常人所能。云(yun)(yun)龍,天(tian)(tian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)子(zi),集(ji)智慧(hui)、尊(zun)貴(gui)一(yi)身(shen),顯帝王之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)勢;水(shui)(shui)紋,臣民(min),地(di)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)輔,吉祥亨通八(ba)寶云(yun)(yun)蝠紋,含福蘊綿長。而(er)今,圣上承天(tian)(tian)地(di)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)道(dao),輔相(xiang)天(tian)(tian)地(di)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)宜(yi),順其自然,民(min)安泰(tai)和,國運昌盛之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)象(xiang)也。若(ruo)以《易經》演算,天(tian)(tian)地(di)相(xiang)交(jiao),上下(xia)互通,吉祥亨達,曰地(di)天(tian)(tian)泰(tai),泰(tai)卦(gua)也。
乾(qian)隆聽之大(da)悅,贊其曰(yue)“技法精(jing)(jing)煉,巧奪天工(gong),運用(yong)之妙,存乎(hu)一心(xin)”,欽賜工(gong)匠(jiang)許(xu)氏為御用(yong)工(gong)匠(jiang)。宮中(zhong)二十(shi)載(zai),工(gong)匠(jiang)許(xu)氏所作紫(zi)檀、海黃等木(mu)器(qi),有屏風、龍(long)柜、大(da)案、桌椅、掛屏以及各種精(jing)(jing)美(mei)的(de)小作陳設(she),不能數(shu)計。工(gong)匠(jiang)許(xu)氏年老(lao)請辭還(huan)鄉,乾(qian)隆為獎(jiang)賞許(xu)氏多年宮廷木(mu)作之功,御筆親(qin)書(shu)“許(xu)氏工(gong)藝”賜予工(gong)匠(jiang)以示(shi)恩(en)典。
爾今(jin),“許氏工藝(yi)”第(di)12代傳人許貴祿先生,從小(xiao)受家庭環境熏(xun)陶(tao),耳濡目染,對(dui)紅木家具情有(you)獨鐘,立志于(yu)雕刻(ke)藝(yi)術的(de)事業人生,專注于(yu)將紅木家具文(wen)化(hua)發揚光大(da)。許貴祿先生在(zai)繼承傳統文(wen)化(hua)載體的(de)基礎(chu)上,以濃郁的(de)人文(wen)理(li)念,高雅的(de)品味,兼收并蓄,融(rong)合創新,取大(da)學士(shi)紀昀“水(shui)波云龍”賞(shang)析之(zhi)卦語,創“地天(tian)泰”紅木家具品牌。
為再現八寶云蝠紋(wen)“水波云龍”寶座之經(jing)典,展(zhan)現東(dong)(dong)陽木雕“許氏工(gong)(gong)藝”之絕技(ji),由許貴(gui)祿先(xian)生(sheng)帶領(ling),匯聚東(dong)(dong)陽50多(duo)位高級匠(jiang)師,精選百余噸木材,歷經(jing)四年,純手工(gong)(gong)打造的大(da)型沙發套(tao)裝(zhuang)組合(he)“盛世年華”在2012年中(zhong)山(shan)紅木家(jia)具文化(hua)節(jie)上綻放問世。