History
LIULI is the Embodiment of Spirit, Life, Philosophy and PassionThe Story of Contemporary Liuli Starts Here Founded in 1987 by studio glass artists Loretta H. Yang and Chang Yi, LIULI has grown from a modest workshop in Taiwan to Asia’s leading crystal art brand. Liuli is the phonetic spelling of the Han Dynasty term for glass art and is used to honor the Chinese heritage and culture. Records show that thousands of years ago, the Chinese were highly skilled in pâte de verre a.k.a lost wax casting but the craft was subsequently forgotten. Yang and Chang revived the craft and reintroduced it into the international arena. Today, LIULI has 37 galleries worldwide, and Loretta’s and Chang Yi’s artworks are collected at more than 20 museums around the world. These include the Victoria and Albert museum in London, the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, The National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C., and the Bowers Museum in Orange County. LIULI has received multiple awards, some of which are iF Design and German Red Dot. |
Resurrecting a Lost Art Pâte-de-verre is most commonly known as the method of glass art. The Chinese mastery of the lost wax casting technique dates back to the Han Dynasty. After that, the art was lost for more than 2 thousand years and did not reappear in the country until 1987 when LIULI Crystal revived the lost art in Taiwan. Founders Loretta H. Yang and Chang Yi decided to honor our cultural background and bring back Liuli. The artists immersed themselves into the art blending ancient Chinese tradition with modern design. With the revival of the art, they have earned the titles of “Liuli Art Pioneer” and “Father of the Asian Studio Glass Movement”. It is not just art; It is a cultural brand that we have created. |
 Earliest Liuli Ear Cup in Han Dynasty that was discovered in the tomb of Emperor Liu Sheng in HeBei Province (near Beijing), China.
Dimension: 5.30"L x 4.00"W x 1.30"H inches |
Understanding the Art of Lost Wax Casting Lost wax art is significantly different when compared to glass blown art. Just like in ancient times, we infuse each piece with the spirit and detail that can only be attained through our painstaking process. Each piece of “Liuli” Art goes through an extensive 12-step creation process. The lost wax process involves sculpting, silicone molding, wax molding, wax form refinement, fire resistant plaster molding, steaming for wax removal, adding glass colors to the kiln, re-firing to add and increase depth and color intensity, plaster mold removal and polishing, final quality control and engraving. This art of lost wax brings you vivid colors, depth, and amazing contrast not found in other crystal art. The unique color blends and gradients are a result of the casting and kiln-firing process. The transparent crystal is used as a base color. During the second stage of re-firing other metals are added, and the color is achieved through oxidation. The metal and high heat allow the colors to crystallize and the end result is a brilliant color that never fades. The artist’s endeavor to perfect the natural and uninhibited flow of color in each piece. When casting using the pâte-de-verre style, bubbles occur naturally. At LIULI Crystal Art we believe that this effect gives the feeling of the artworks ‘life force”, as if the art breathes through the bubbles. To explore more of our technique and watch the video, please visit: here |
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Continuously Creating Art That Is Good for the Heart We infuse poetry into the artwork of each piece. Each piece has a story whether it is a mythical creature or an element. Our art helps people release stress and provides a calming, positive influence. We bring love to the world through art. The pieces are unique and limited editions that are numbered on the underside of each creation. The set quantity allows the owner a unique piece of art and speaks to the commitment that our artists make to strive each piece as unique as you are. We limit the number of pieces created to foster an environment where our artists are constantly engaged in the creation process. We infuse color to create a vivid and elegant experience happiness, love, and benevolence guide our behavior, practices, and our creation of art. At LIULI Crystal, we are resurrecting the Chinese culture, honoring it and passing it on to make the world more beautiful. This is what makes LIULI Crystal stand above the competition. The peony is our symbol as “The King of Flowers” since the Tang Dynasty (617-907AD), it’s our symbol of warm blessings, gratitude and appreciation and love. Our vision/mission is “To Continuously create art for the good of the heart.” |
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Collected by Prominent Museums and Galleries Founders and Artists Loretta H. Yang and Chang Yi have created masterpieces that are in more than 35 museums and 41 galleries around the world in Asia, North America, and Europe. Yang created “A Great Wish” in 1996, and it is a permanent piece in both the Bowers Museum and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The piece was created by her own personal experience in Vietnam. She saw a young child sleeping in the streets, in rags. Her heart broke, and she created the art piece of an infant cradled in the palm of a hand. The wish of the piece is “for every child to know warmth’. The collector edition piece proceeds benefit charities worldwide to raise money for children in need. In North America, part of the proceeds goes to the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. |
A Great Wish. Liuli. 1996 |
A Great Wish-Special Collector's Edition, with Artist Loretta H. Yang's signature. Liuli. 2019 |
