An enamelware of phoenix – an auspicious bird in Chinese mythology, is on display at the Beijing Design Week on Sept 23, 2016.

A replica of an ancient royal enamel bowl, dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), is showcased at the Beijing Design Week on Sept 23, 2016.

A series of royal enamelware debuted at the Beijing Design Week on Friday, giving visitors a glimpse of the rare porcelains used only by the imperial family over 300 years ago.

The artistic works, 18 in total, are recreated by an expert team led by Sun Heyang, founder of the Beijing-based Zhenghegong enamel research institute. The new products not only revived the royal articles used in ancient times but also combined them with modern aesthetic taste to meet today's needs.

Among the newly unveiled articles, the most eye-catching ones include a complete replica of an antique bowl originally made during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a figure of a phoenix - an auspicious bird in Chinese mythology, and a pair of cups featuring flowers and butterflies - symbolizing romantic love.

"Enamelware were a symbol of power and wealth in ancient times, but by recreating them today, we hope more people could learn about and own them," said Sun at Friday's launch.

"I also hope that the art treasure, which represented the pinnacle of Chinese ceramic art, could be spread to the world via our efforts."

The project was jointly launched by Zhenghegong, the Great Seed Inc. - a Chinese company dedicated to promote traditional Chinese craft, and startup company Easy Funding.

A brief history of enamel painting

The art of enamel porcelain first appeared in ancient China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and later thrived in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The craftsmanship, however, gradually disappeared during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty (1711-1799) due to the complicated workmanship which was only limited to imperial workers.

According to historical data, only some 400 pieces are left in today's world.

An enamelware of phoenix – an auspicious bird in Chinese mythology, is on display at the Beijing Design Week on Sept 23, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Over 160 procedures to get an enamel product

Sun's team dedicated 13 years' efforts, studying a lot of reference materials and literature in order to revive the techniques that have been lost for over two centuries. It requires 167 complicated processes to produce a splendid enamel work, according to Sun's institute.