A Shiwan ceramic figurine from Foshan, Guangdong Province of Bruce Lee is displayed on May 18, 2024. /IC

A Shiwan ceramic figurine from Foshan, Guangdong Province of Wing Chun master Ip Man, or Yip Man, is displayed on May 18, 2024. /IC

A Shiwan ceramic sculpture from Foshan, Guangdong Province is displayed on May 18, 2024. /IC

A Shiwan ceramic figurine from Foshan, Guangdong Province of kung fu master Wong Fei-hung, or Huang Feihong, is displayed on May 18, 2024. /IC

A Shiwan ceramic figurine from Foshan, Guangdong Province of Confucius is displayed on May 18, 2024. /IC

Shiwan ceramics stand out among China's ceramic arts, with its origins in the kilns of the Shiwan area of Foshan, in south China's Guangdong Province.

Passed down through several generations, the art form can be traced back to the Neolithic period (7000 BC-1700 BC), having flourished during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. From its early days of producing utensils like tea pots and rice cookers, to the modern figurines of kung fu masters and movie stars, Shiwan ceramics continue to charm collectors. Traditionally, when making Shiwan figurines, the faces and hands are never glazed, allowing the artists to create more realistic textures.

Shiwan ceramic sculptures are now listed as a national intangible cultural heritage of China.