Pate-de-verre, also known as lost-wax casting, is a common technique used in making Liuli art. It is a multi-mold process with the final stage being the unveiling of a Liuli glass form. The advantage of adopting this method is for the ability to achieve incredible detail through precise execution to expand the creative realm of Liuli.

In the 19th century, the once lost Egyptian art of lost-wax casting found new life in France through Pate-de-verre during the Art Nouveau era. The reintroduction of the technique led to a flourishing revival throughout Europe.

According to unearthed artifacts, the Chinese had mastered the very same

technique in the Han Dynasty (206BC – 220AD). However, somewhere along the way the art was lost and disappeared for thousands of years only to reemerge in 1987 through Liuligongfang’s efforts. Liuligongfang took a quintessentially traditional Chinese art form and brought it to life in modern day China. It is because of Liuligongfang that the lost-wax technique has come to be the standard in the hundred plus Liuli workshops across Asia.

Liuli lost-wax casting is a complex process involving twelve stages per article. Each step must be performed with perfection; any misstep, however minor, will lead to breakage, irregularities and damaged artwork.