Variegated copperware has long been considered as an artwork for collectors. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, craftsmen in the Dongchuan area of Yunnan began to use high-quality natural copper to make incense burners, vases and pots, among which the more precious ones became articles of tribute.

After the founding of new China in 1949, the Kunming Variegated Copperware Manufacturer -- the only professional manufacturer of such products in China -- was established, inheriting the traditional techniques with a focus on innovation. After more than 30 years of efforts, the company produced many quality variegated copperware works. According to statistics, the products from the manufacturer have won more than 40 prizes and honors. Some curious pieces, such as the "Archaized Ox", "Five-Shape Incense Burner", "Kwan-yin Statue," etc, are very famous. Others, such as the "Peacock King and Buddha", "Peacock Vase", "Great Rhinoceros," etc, were listed as industrial arts treasures by the national government in 1986.