中國侯(hou)(hou)店毛(mao)筆(bi)產于河(he)北省衡水(shui)市侯(hou)(hou)店村,古稱(cheng)蒙筆(bi),又稱(cheng)“蒙恬(tian)精(jing)筆(bi)”、“侯(hou)(hou)筆(bi)”,古稱(cheng)象筆(bi)。是歷史悠久的特色傳統手工(gong)藝品。筆(bi)長桿硬,剛柔相(xiang)濟(ji),含墨飽滿而(er)不滴,行筆(bi)流(liu)暢而(er)不滯(zhi)。主要產于“衡水(shui)毛(mao)筆(bi)之(zhi)鄉”桃城區侯(hou)(hou)店村,品種多達二(er)百七十多種。
侯(hou)店毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi),相傳(chuan)為秦朝將軍蒙(meng)(meng)恬所(suo)(suo)制(zhi)。據史料記載,公(gong)元前221至公(gong)元前207年(nian),蒙(meng)(meng)恬帶領三(san)十萬大軍固守秦朝北部邊疆(jiang),路經(jing)侯(hou)店,時值三(san)月三(san)日,始(試)以兔毫竹管為筆(bi)(bi)寫成家(jia)書一(yi)封,隨后將毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)贈(zeng)送給侯(hou)店人(ren)。后來,侯(hou)店人(ren)便仿制(zhi)出“蒙(meng)(meng)恬精筆(bi)(bi)”。到(dao)了唐代(dai),侯(hou)店村毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)藝(yi)人(ren)李文魁(kui)在北京開設筆(bi)(bi)店,一(yi)名(ming)愛好書法的(de)太監同他結(jie)為兄(xiong)弟,經(jing)常把他制(zhi)作的(de)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)買進皇(huang)宮(gong),受(shou)到(dao)皇(huang)帝的(de)賞識,于是侯(hou)店毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)譽滿天下(xia),并被奉(feng)為御用之品。所(suo)(suo)以,每逢三(san)月三(san)日,侯(hou)店一(yi)帶制(zhi)筆(bi)(bi)藝(yi)人(ren)都(dou)放鞭炮、擺宴席,紀念(nian)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)創始人(ren)蒙(meng)(meng)恬。
而當地制筆之業盛起于明永樂(le)年(nian)(nian)間(jian),距今已有五百多(duo)年(nian)(nian)的歷(li)史。所制之筆,馳名遐邇(er)。光緒(xu)年(nian)(nian)間(jian),因制作(zuo)技藝精湛,亦奉為御(yu)用(yong),光緒(xu)帝立碑表彰(zhang),稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之“御(yu)筆”。民國(guo)初(chu)年(nian)(nian),巴(ba)拿馬賽會曾(ceng)獲(huo)有獎(jiang)章,故衡水侯店(dian)村因此被稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為“毛(mao)筆圣地”、“北(bei)國(guo)筆鄉”。侯店(dian)毛(mao)筆也與(yu)內畫和宮(gong)廷金魚一起,并稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)“衡水三(san)絕”。
侯店(dian)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)選材精良,所(suo)選有(you)(you)黃狼尾、香(xiang)貍(li)尾、石獾毛(mao)、南山(shan)羊毛(mao)、牛耳毛(mao)、狗脊毛(mao)、老鼠胡子等40多種動物的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)尾毛(mao)、毫毛(mao),彈、韌性強,經過(guo)漫、拔、胼(pian)、連、合等工(gong)(gong)(gong)序(xu),制(zhi)成(cheng)不同(tong)(tong)規格、不同(tong)(tong)種類(lei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)。侯店(dian)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)十分重(zhong)視毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)裝飾,以適(shi)應國內外用(yong)戶的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)要求。筆(bi)(bi)(bi)桿(gan)取材廣泛,有(you)(you)有(you)(you)“湘妃(fei)竹(zhu)(zhu)”、“鳳(feng)(feng)眼竹(zhu)(zhu)”、“太陽竹(zhu)(zhu)”、“紅(hong)木”、“象牙”“毛(mao)竹(zhu)(zhu)”、“紫竹(zhu)(zhu)”、“斑竹(zhu)(zhu)”等近十種材質。筆(bi)(bi)(bi)桿(gan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)裝口和封頂也用(yong)竹(zhu)(zhu)、牙、骨、角、硬木雕(diao)等17種原料,采(cai)用(yong)嵌、鑲(xiang)工(gong)(gong)(gong)藝裝配而(er)成(cheng)。有(you)(you)些筆(bi)(bi)(bi)桿(gan)還浮雕(diao)上“龍(long)(long)戲(xi)鳳(feng)(feng)”、“龍(long)(long)盤柱”、“福祿壽喜”、“牛郎織女”等圖案和字樣,尤其是用(yong)象牙雕(diao)刻(ke)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)高檔(dang)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)“龍(long)(long)戲(xi)鳳(feng)(feng)”,既是書(shu)法用(yong)具,又(you)是藝術(shu)(shu)珍(zhen)品(pin)(pin)。 生產工(gong)(gong)(gong)藝精細,樣式(shi)新(xin)穎(ying)、造型美觀。尤其配上紅(hong)木、黃楊木和象牙等材料,精心(xin)雕(diao)刻(ke)鑲(xiang)嵌的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)二龍(long)(long)戲(xi)珠、龍(long)(long)鳳(feng)(feng)呈祥(xiang)、雙鳳(feng)(feng)展翅、鳳(feng)(feng)凰戲(xi)牡丹以及(ji)古裝人(ren)物、山(shan)水(shui)花木等圖案的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)高檔(dang)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)桿(gan),更似錦(jin)上添(tian)花,成(cheng)為(wei)一(yi)件件既有(you)(you)實(shi)用(yong)價值,而(er)又(you)精致高雅的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)工(gong)(gong)(gong)藝美術(shu)(shu)品(pin)(pin)。深受國內外書(shu)法愛(ai)好(hao)者的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)喜愛(ai)和贊賞。侯店(dian)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)制(zhi)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)工(gong)(gong)(gong)藝經過(guo)水(shui)盆、干作、零活、刻(ke)字直管、包(bao)裝五道大工(gong)(gong)(gong)序(xu),七十三道小工(gong)(gong)(gong)序(xu),才(cai)能(neng)制(zhi)成(cheng)不同(tong)(tong)規格、不同(tong)(tong)形狀、不同(tong)(tong)用(yong)途的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)。具有(you)(you)堅(jian)韌適(shi)度(du),剛柔相齊,含(han)墨量大,不易脫毛(mao)等優點。整個流程全部執行嚴格的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)檢查驗收制(zhi)度(du),使產品(pin)(pin)質量穩定可靠(kao)。
侯(hou)店(dian)毛(mao)(mao)筆(bi)古樸、典(dian)雅、精美是廣大書(shu)畫家(jia)及(ji)藝術品(pin)(pin)收(shou)藏家(jia)的首選佳(jia)品(pin)(pin),也是單(dan)位或個人交往、饋贈(zeng)的上等(deng)(deng)禮品(pin)(pin),深受廣大消費者喜愛。李先(xian)念、楊成武、高占(zhan)祥、王任重、姬鵬(peng)飛、方(fang)毅、劉志堅等(deng)(deng)國家(jia)領導人到侯(hou)店(dian)村視察,并試筆(bi)題詞。啟功、范曾(ceng)、劉炳森、肖勞、沈(shen)鵬(peng)、范曾(ceng)、孫墨佛等(deng)(deng)著名(ming)書(shu)法家(jia)及(ji)末(mo)代皇帝愛新覺羅傅(fu)杰(jie),為侯(hou)店(dian)毛(mao)(mao)筆(bi)潑(po)墨贊絕。侯(hou)店(dian)毛(mao)(mao)筆(bi),蜚聲異域,名(ming)揚海(hai)外,遠(yuan)銷日(ri)本、歐洲、東南亞等(deng)(deng)十一個國家(jia)和(he)地區,年出(chu)口量達三百(bai)多萬支。榮獲工藝美術“百(bai)花獎(jiang)”和(he)國家(jia)部優產品(pin)(pin)證書(shu)及(ji)天(tian)津進出(chu)口商(shang)品(pin)(pin)檢(jian)驗局(ju)、天(tian)津外貿出(chu)口免檢(jian)證書(shu)。毛(mao)(mao)筆(bi)中“風(feng)云”、“水月”、“小狼毫”等(deng)(deng)多種毛(mao)(mao)筆(bi)被天(tian)津口岸定(ding)為“信得過的免檢(jian)產品(pin)(pin)”。
崔恒生是侯(hou)店(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)村資格最老的(de)(de)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)工(gong),今(jin)年(nian)(nian)84歲,少年(nian)(nian)時代曾在(zai)(zai)(zai)琉璃廠做工(gong),解放(fang)前才回到侯(hou)店(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),在(zai)(zai)(zai)侯(hou)店(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)廠度過了后半(ban)生。在(zai)(zai)(zai)崔恒生的(de)(de)記憶中,上(shang)(shang)(shang)世(shi)紀(ji)(ji)30、40年(nian)(nian)代,在(zai)(zai)(zai)北京的(de)(de)琉璃廠,侯(hou)店(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)這4個(ge)字就是一個(ge)金(jin)字招牌,凡(fan)是到琉璃廠買毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)的(de)(de)幾(ji)乎(hu)都(dou)是沖著侯(hou)店(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)來的(de)(de)侯(hou)店(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)的(de)(de)輝煌一直延續(xu)到了上(shang)(shang)(shang)世(shi)紀(ji)(ji)90年(nian)(nian)代。“以前,侯(hou)店(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)村的(de)(de)家家戶(hu)(hu)戶(hu)(hu)幾(ji)乎(hu)都(dou)是靠做毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)為生,到1952年(nian)(nian)村里(li)成立了侯(hou)店(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)廠,這才告(gao)別了以前的(de)(de)家庭作坊(fang)式生產,走上(shang)(shang)(shang)了工(gong)業化之路。”現任侯(hou)店(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)廠廠長王振森在(zai)(zai)(zai)上(shang)(shang)(shang)世(shi)紀(ji)(ji)60年(nian)(nian)代就進了廠,他告(gao)訴記者,在(zai)(zai)(zai)毛(mao)筆(bi)(bi)(bi)(bi)廠最紅(hong)火的(de)(de)上(shang)(shang)(shang)世(shi)紀(ji)(ji)80、90年(nian)(nian)代,廠里(li)光工(gong)人就有(you)300多名,每年(nian)(nian)來自日本、韓國和東南亞各國的(de)(de)海外(wai)訂(ding)單絡繹不(bu)絕,“那時為了完(wan)成訂(ding)單,廠里(li)經(jing)常(chang)要加班(ban)加點,每年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)銷售額都(dou)在(zai)(zai)(zai)幾(ji)百萬元。”