FLOWER BOARD

This pattern inspired by the “Flower Board Paper Crafting Technique”(花牌紮作技藝) which is on display in ICHO - Sam Tung Uk Museum. Paper crafting technique has a long history in Hong Kong, and is listed as a Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage.  Traditional Chinese flower board (花牌) is a traditional Chinese folk handicraft made of bamboo scaffolding, paper, fabric and plastic in red and fluorescent colors, depicting Chinese dragons, phoenixes, flowers, and blessings written in Chinese calligraphy, and built as a sign of prosperity, luck and happiness to celebrate festivals, weddings and store openings. Popular in the 1950’s-1980’s, in the age before cell phones and internet, flower boards could be commonly seen on the streets of HK, announcing jubilant events to passersby; in the past 30 years, flower boards have faded from the city scene, and only found in walled villages and temples. At present, there are only a few “see-foo” (master craftsmen) left who still possess the skill and the passion for this time-honored handicraft.