Inheritance, Cultural Legacy and Innovation in Traditional Art – A Case Study of Chinese Innerpainted Snuff Bottles

This paper introduces the relationship between inheritance, cultural legacy and innovation in traditional art and the historical development of traditional Chinese inner-painted snuff bottles. Although, the traditional Chinese inner-painted snuff bottles are a folk handicraft, it is an integral part of China's intangible cultural heritage and an indispensable and significant category of art in Chinese culture. However, in its 200 years of history and development, inner-painted snuff bottles have not substantially improved either in shape or in the content and quality of decoration and could be viewed as being in a state of slow decline. In the research process, the main focus has been on the production method, creating inner-painted sculpture using kiln casting glass techniques and interpreting the treatment method of inner and outer harmony of experimental works from the perspective of the traditional Chinese philosophy of 'Yin' and 'Yang', a dualist concept that expresses how opposite forces may actually be complementary. It is hoped that this study will not only promote the important cultural legacy and innovation of Chinese inner-painted snuff bottle art, but it will also bring about a new method for creating contemporary glass art.