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Ma Yiming, a ceramic restorer at the Shangyu Museum in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, recently claimed first place in the ceramics restoration category at the Zhejiang Province Cultural Relics Industry Vocational Skills Selection Competition. 

His meticulous restoration of a fragmented Yue Kiln lotus petal carved bowl from the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-581) earned him top honors. Ma will represent Zhejiang in the upcoming national competition. Recognized as a "Zhejiang Golden Blue-collar Talent", he is widely respected for his craftsmanship and dedication to preserving cultural heritage.

Ma Yiming carefully examines a damaged ceramic bowl during a restoration process. [Photo/Tide News]

For Ma, restoring broken ceramics is like giving them a new lease on life. With over a decade of experience, he was first introduced to the craft by his father, Ma Jinyan, a renowned expert in the restoration of cultural relics. As a child, he watched his father at work, often helping with small tasks such as identifying and assembling ceramic fragments. This early exposure fostered a deep passion for the field.

Ceramic restoration is a highly complex and time-consuming process that requires expertise in historical analysis, structural assessment, and surface treatment. Each restoration involves multiple steps, including bonding, filling, glazing, and polishing, all of which demand exceptional precision. 

In one case, Ma spent two years sifting through thousands of ceramic shards to find a perfect match for a damaged Guan Kiln ice-crack glaze bowl from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). The result was so seamless that the repair was virtually undetectable.

As the field evolves, Ma has embraced modern technology, integrating 3D printing and digital scanning to improve the accuracy of restoration. He is also experimenting with environmentally friendly and reversible materials to ensure minimal intervention while maintaining the integrity of the original artifacts.

To date, Ma has restored thousands of ceramic relics. Industry experts praise his dedication, describing his work as a quest for perfection. He believes that every artifact carries a historical narrative, and as a conservator, his mission goes beyond repair — it is about preserving cultural memory for future generations.

The condition of a damaged ceramic bowl before (L) and after Ma Yiming's restoration. [Photo/Tide News]