Serial number: 2004-22
Value in set: 2
Denomination: 160 fen
Date of issue: September 22, 2004
Designer: Wang Huming and Catalin Ilinca
Size of stamp: 36*36mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
13 for Sheet I; 8 for Sheet II(4 sets)
Printing process: Gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

This special stamp set, Lacquerware and Pottery, was issued on September 22, 2004. It consists of two stamps with a total face value of 1.60 yuan, with both large sheet and miniature sheet formats issued concurrently. The stamps were jointly designed by Chinese designer Wang Huming and Romanian designer Cătălina Ilinca, with Zhao Lei serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. This is the first joint stamp issue between China and Romania, with the first-day ceremony coinciding with the 23rd Universal Postal Union Congress in Bucharest. The set commemorates the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Romania, featuring representative ancient artifacts from each country, showcasing the craftsmanship achievements of ancient Eastern and Western civilizations.

Lacquerware and pottery are representative handcrafted treasures from the prehistoric and ancient periods of China and Romania, respectively. Chinese lacquerware has a long history, reaching a very high level as early as the pre-Qin period. Chu lacquerware, with its dynamic forms and ornate decorations, combines wood carving, painting, and lacquering techniques, representing the essence of the Bronze Age civilization in southern China. The Cucuteni painted pottery from Romania is an important prehistoric cultural relic of the European Bronze Age, featuring flowing geometric patterns that reflect the unique aesthetic sensibilities of early peoples. Though separated by vast distances, both artifacts embody the creative wisdom of ancient peoples. This joint stamp issue serves as a bridge for cultural exchange, bringing these ancient crafts together on a small canvas and fostering cultural understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Tiger Base and Phoenix Drum Stand

This artifact, excavated in Jingzhou, Hubei, is a painted lacquerware musical instrument from the Warring States period. It is made of carved wood with a lacquer finish. Two tigers serve as the base, while a phoenix stands proudly supporting the drum. The piece is decorated with intricate patterns in red, black, and yellow. It is both an ancient percussion instrument and a masterpiece of Chu lacquerware art, now housed in the Jingzhou Museum.

Cucuteni Pottery Jar

This jar, excavated from the Cucuteni site in Romania, is a representative painted pottery vessel of the Cucuteni culture. It is decorated with flowing spiral patterns in black, red, and white. With its unique and elegant form, this vessel is thousands of years old and bears witness to the distinctive artistic style of prehistoric painted pottery in Eastern Europe.

Artistic and Design Features

The square format is balanced and elegant, with a soft, subtle background highlighting the artifacts. The delicate painted patterns and three-dimensional forms of the ancient objects are faithfully preserved. The two artifacts are presented side by side, reflecting the equal collaboration between the two countries. The photogravure printing provides precise and delicate color reproduction. The stamps incorporate multiple anti-counterfeiting features, including security paper, security ink, shaped perforations, and fluorescent spray codes. The miniature sheet features simple, antique border decorations, creating a serene and substantial overall style, with both international cultural exchange and artifact collectible value.

This stamp set is a special issue on the theme of ancient artifacts and international joint issues, including a miniature sheet, suitable for thematic collections on joint stamp issues and ancient civilizations.