Hand-Cut Chinese Papercut Scroll
“天下第一福 – The Greatest Blessing Under Heaven”
Zhou Yongming / Zhou Guang Papercutting Lineage (Hebei, China)
This impressive 155 × 55 cm Chinese scroll showcases a masterwork of traditional Yu County papercutting (蔚县剪纸), an art form recognized as part of China’s intangible cultural heritage. The central motif is a large 福 (fú) character — symbolizing good fortune, happiness, and prosperity — meticulously formed from hundreds of individually hand-cut miniature 福 characters. This micro-character technique is a signature style of the renowned Zhou family workshop.
The scroll is produced by the Wang Laoshan → Zhou Yongming → Zhou Guang artistic lineage, famous within Hebei Province for their highly detailed, fully hand-cut folk papercuts. The accompanying certificate (dated 2011) confirms the piece as an authentic work from this heritage studio.
Features
Hand-cut papercut artwork mounted on a silk-backed hanging scroll
Large size: 155 cm × 55 cm
Micro-character design: hundreds of tiny characters integrated into the main 福 shape
Vertical couplet text:
天下第一福 — “The Greatest Blessing Under Heaven”
Additional auspicious inscriptions surrounding the design
Original presentation box with traditional printing
Certificate of authenticity from Zhou Yongming’s family papercutting company
Symbolism
The 福 (“Fu”) character is one of the most powerful and widely used symbols in Chinese culture, representing:
Good fortune
Prosperity
Happiness
Protection
Auspicious beginnings
A scroll like this is traditionally displayed in homes, businesses, and temples to invite blessing and positive energy.
Condition
Excellent overall condition; the scroll hangs cleanly and displays beautifully. No tears or discoloration in the papercut.
A striking, meaningful, and highly collectible artwork that blends traditional craftsmanship with auspicious symbolism.