Introduction
"Precious" refers to the treasured materials and exceptional workmanship, while "crafts" indicates the consummate skill that went into the design and production of the classical forms, making it difficult for viewers to stop admiring these objects. For this special exhibition, over 300 sets of precious crafts were carefully selected out of more than 20,000 precious crafts in the National Palace Museum (NPM) collection. The special exhibition is divided into four themes, which are "Treasures of the Imperial Household: Fine Enamels and Buddhist Ritual Implements," "Imperial Gems of Ornamentation: Precious Accessories and Auspicious Objects," "How Divine the Skills: The Ultimate Craftsmanship of Ingenious Carvings," and "In the Elegant Pursuit of Antiquity: Utensils and Objects of the Scholar's Study." A brief introduction to the four themes is as follows: "Treasures of the Imperial Household" introduces various "Jingtai blues" (modern-day enamels) and Buddhist ritual implements (from Tibet) worshipped by the Imperial Household during the Ming and Qing Dynasties; "Imperial Gems of Ornamentation" presents magnificent accessories used in Imperial Court costumes as well as auspicious furnishings; "How Divine the Skills" displays unique, extraordinary carvings created by various craftsmen; and "In the Elegant Pursuit of Antiquity" features the best collection of the utensils and objects of the scholar's study in the NPM collection. By reading the exhibition handbook, readers will be able to appreciate the beauty and history behind these precious crafts.