Mammoth tusk composition "Fishing vessel with a seine"

The work "Fishing vessel with a seine" was first created by master Li Dingning in the last century. In the composition, the master subtly used the natural shape of the tusk, conveying the outlines of the boat: the hull is curved like a crescent, with a narrow nose and a wide middle part, and the fishing net is made with delicate transparency and grace.

Thanks to the thoughtful composition, the tense moment is captured when fishermen pull out a net with a catch. The figures are diverse — men and women, old men and children: some row, others pull a net, others collect fish. Their poses and facial expressions are rendered with amazing realism, creating a sense of live movement.

The use of complex openwork techniques forms an expressive scene of fishing labor, filled with the rhythm and atmosphere of everyday life. After the appearance of this composition, the series "Fishing Vessel with a seine" became a landmark trend of the Guangzhou bone carving school, maintaining steady interest and recognition over the years.