早在先秦時(shi)代(dai),云(yun)南(nan)就(jiu)以銅(tong)器制(zhi)作(zuo)而聞名于世。秦漢時(shi)期(qi),朱提(ti)、堂瑯(今云(yun)南(nan)昭(zhao)通(tong)市(shi)、東川縣、會澤(ze)縣)等(deng)地生產的(de)“朱提(ti)洗”、“堂瑯洗”等(deng)銅(tong)器行銷各地,為(wei)(wei)時(shi)所重。至明(ming)代(dai),云(yun)南(nan)銅(tong)器匠師采用東川附近的(de)天然斑(ban)銅(tong)礦石(shi),用冷鍛成(cheng)型的(de)方(fang)法制(zhi)作(zuo)成(cheng)人物(wu)、動(dong)物(wu)及(ji)仿古的(de)瓶、鼎、爐、罐、爵(jue)等(deng)斑(ban)銅(tong)制(zhi)品,為(wei)(wei)銅(tong)器制(zhi)作(zuo)開創了一條新路。
銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)中摻雜(za)進金(jin)、銀等其他未能(neng)全然融合的(de)(de)金(jin)屬,會出現(xian)一種(zhong)特(te)殊的(de)(de)輝斑(ban),形成斑(ban)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)。斑(ban)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)有深藍(lan)、紫金(jin)、赤紅等色,其中最耀眼的(de)(de)是(shi)金(jin)黃色。匠師(shi)們用斑(ban)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)制(zhi)作(zuo)器(qi)物(wu),表面拋光后,古銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)色的(de)(de)底子上會顯出斑(ban)彩(cai)熠熠的(de)(de)天然效果,且各(ge)器(qi)物(wu)的(de)(de)斑(ban)影無一雷同。斑(ban)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)制(zhi)作(zuo)技藝(yi)(yi)是(shi)云南(nan)獨特(te)的(de)(de)傳(chuan)統手工藝(yi)(yi),具(ju)有很高的(de)(de)歷史、文化價值。保(bao)護并發展(zhan)斑(ban)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)制(zhi)作(zuo)技藝(yi)(yi)對于展(zhan)現(xian)民(min)族文化創造(zao)力具(ju)有重要意義。
斑銅制作技(ji)藝(yi)是2008年經國務(wu)院批準列入第二批國家級非(fei)物質文化遺產名錄的一種傳統技(ji)藝(yi)。