早(zao)在先秦(qin)時代(dai),云(yun)南(nan)就以銅(tong)器(qi)(qi)制(zhi)作而聞名于(yu)世。秦(qin)漢(han)時期,朱提、堂瑯(lang)(今云(yun)南(nan)昭通市、東(dong)川縣、會(hui)澤縣)等(deng)地生產的(de)(de)“朱提洗”、“堂瑯(lang)洗”等(deng)銅(tong)器(qi)(qi)行銷各地,為時所重。至明代(dai),云(yun)南(nan)銅(tong)器(qi)(qi)匠師采用東(dong)川附近的(de)(de)天然斑(ban)銅(tong)礦石,用冷鍛(duan)成型(xing)的(de)(de)方(fang)法制(zhi)作成人物、動物及仿古的(de)(de)瓶、鼎、爐、罐、爵等(deng)斑(ban)銅(tong)制(zhi)品(pin),為銅(tong)器(qi)(qi)制(zhi)作開創了(le)一條新路。
銅(tong)中摻雜進金(jin)、銀等(deng)其他(ta)未能全然融合的(de)(de)金(jin)屬,會出現一種特(te)殊(shu)的(de)(de)輝斑(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban),形(xing)成(cheng)斑(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)銅(tong)。斑(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)銅(tong)有深藍、紫金(jin)、赤(chi)紅(hong)等(deng)色(se),其中最(zui)耀眼的(de)(de)是金(jin)黃色(se)。匠師們用(yong)斑(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)銅(tong)制作(zuo)器(qi)物,表面拋光后(hou),古銅(tong)色(se)的(de)(de)底(di)子上會顯出斑(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)彩(cai)熠熠的(de)(de)天然效果,且各(ge)器(qi)物的(de)(de)斑(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)影無一雷同。斑(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)銅(tong)制作(zuo)技(ji)藝(yi)是云南獨特(te)的(de)(de)傳統手工(gong)藝(yi),具有很(hen)高(gao)的(de)(de)歷史、文化(hua)價(jia)值(zhi)。保護并發(fa)展(zhan)斑(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)銅(tong)制作(zuo)技(ji)藝(yi)對(dui)于(yu)展(zhan)現民族文化(hua)創造力具有重要(yao)意(yi)義。
斑銅(tong)制作技(ji)藝是2008年經(jing)國(guo)務院(yuan)批準列入第(di)二批國(guo)家級非物(wu)質(zhi)文化遺產(chan)名錄(lu)的一種傳統(tong)技(ji)藝。