高(gao)要編(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)主要分為花席與洋籃,就是著名(ming)的金渡花席編(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)技(ji)藝、新橋洋籃編(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)工藝。
高要(yao)(yao)草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)的生(sheng)產始于明朝,編織(zhi)(zhi)草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)的蒲(pu)(pu)草(cao)(cao)自(zi)福建傳入高要(yao)(yao),引種于金渡(du)、白(bai)土、蓮塘等地(di)。蒲(pu)(pu)草(cao)(cao)具有莖細(xi)、柔軟、堅韌等特點,有“賽龍須”之美譽(yu)。蒲(pu)(pu)草(cao)(cao)曬干后,經過挑選、舂平、漂洗、染色,方可編織(zhi)(zhi)。初以編織(zhi)(zhi)蒲(pu)(pu)包(bao)為主(zhu),后改(gai)為編草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)。草(cao)(cao)席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)又(you)分為白(bai)席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)和花席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)兩種,白(bai)席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)是用本(ben)色草(cao)(cao)編織(zhi)(zhi)而(er)成(cheng),花席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)則采用染色草(cao)(cao)和本(ben)色草(cao)(cao)交叉編制。自(zi)清中葉(xie)國(guo)(guo)外染料傳入金渡(du),便產生(sheng)花席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)。新中國(guo)(guo)成(cheng)立后一度成(cheng)為高要(yao)(yao)最大宗(zong)的手工業(ye),高峰(feng)時(shi)年(nian)收購(gou)量(liang)達200多萬張。花席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)分十個級別、十二(er)種規格。1958年(nian),國(guo)(guo)家(jia)主(zhu)席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)劉(liu)少奇到東南亞各(ge)國(guo)(guo)訪(fang)問(wen)時(shi),曾把金渡(du)花席(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)(xi)作為禮品(pin)饋贈給外國(guo)(guo)友人。
高(gao)要(yao)洋籃(lan)又叫花(hua)籃(lan),始創于清光緒(xu)年(nian)間,相傳由新(xin)橋竹(zhu)器(qi)工(gong)(gong)匠鄧福(fu)首(shou)創。新(xin)中(zhong)國成立后(hou),私人生產(chan)的竹(zhu)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)行(xing)業逐步(bu)過(guo)(guo)渡到(dao)集體經營。1958年(nian)新(xin)橋150個(ge)生產(chan)隊中(zhong)有(you)142個(ge)開(kai)展竹(zhu)器(qi)編(bian)(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),從(cong)業人員1.1萬(wan)人,占總人口的23%。改革開(kai)放(fang)后(hou),洋籃(lan)花(hua)色(se)品種(zhong)不斷增(zeng)加,生產(chan)向(xiang)規(gui)模(mo)化、現代化方向(xiang)發展。1982年(nian)曾派出溫志強(qiang)、溫定先等人赴(fu)哥倫比亞傳授編(bian)(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)技(ji)術。1987年(nian)全鎮有(you)編(bian)(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)工(gong)(gong)藝廠15家,其中(zhong)以珠江工(gong)(gong)藝廠和珠江文(wen)明廠規(gui)模(mo)較大(da),產(chan)值均在(zai)百萬(wan)元(yuan)以上。直到(dao)九十年(nian)代讓位于規(gui)模(mo)更大(da)的聯發工(gong)(gong)藝有(you)限(xian)公(gong)司,產(chan)品從(cong)竹(zhu)、藤織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)品向(xiang)鐵、木、芒、柳、樹葉等多(duo)(duo)元(yuan)化方向(xiang)發展,品種(zhong)由過(guo)(guo)去的100多(duo)(duo)種(zhong)增(zeng)加到(dao)1800多(duo)(duo)種(zhong)。竹(zhu)編(bian)(bian)藝人精心(xin)選擇上等的新(xin)橋竹(zhu)、河臺(tai)竹(zhu)或廣寧竹(zhu),然后(hou)刮青開(kai)邊,曬成蠟黃色(se)后(hou),破(po)成粗(cu)細(xi)均勻、厚薄一致的竹(zhu)片(pian)和竹(zhu)絲。根(gen)據(ju)需要(yao),有(you)的保(bao)持(chi)竹(zhu)子本身(shen)自然色(se)澤,有(you)的還(huan)需要(yao)涂上硝酸,畫成花(hua)紋,或染色(se)加工(gong)(gong)。竹(zhu)編(bian)(bian)工(gong)(gong)藝大(da)體可分起底、織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)身(shen)、插(cha)花(hua)、燒花(hua)、噴漆、絞口等工(gong)(gong)序。在(zai)經緯編(bian)(bian)織(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的基(ji)礎上,還(huan)可以穿插(cha)各種(zhong)技(ji)法,如(ru)疏、插(cha)、穿、削、鎖、釘、扎、套等,使編(bian)(bian)出的圖案花(hua)色(se)變(bian)化多(duo)(duo)樣(yang)。