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Archaic Chinese bronzes : ritual and artistic treasures of antiquity

  • Writer: Artmediary
    Artmediary
  • Feb 18
  • 3 min read

Archaic Chinese bronzes, renowned for their artistic excellence and cultural significance, represent one of the most distinctive expressions of ancient Chinese art. Unlike those produced elsewhere in the world, Chinese bronzes were not designed for utilitarian purposes. Their function was propitiatory and magical, and they were used primarily in funeral rites and religious ceremonies. Their emergence and evolution bear witness to the profound spirituality and technical sophistication of Bronze Age Chinese civilizations.


Zun Vase, between 1300 and 1050 BC, China, conserved at Musée Cernuschi, Musée des Arts de l'Asie de la ville de Paris
Zun Vase, between 1300 and 1050 BC, China, conserved at Musée Cernuschi, Musée des Arts de l'Asie de la ville de Paris

Made from an alloy of copper, tin and sometimes a little lead, bronze is a luxurious material reserved for the manufacture of imperial, ritual and funerary objects.

 

Chinese bronzes are admired as masterpieces of bronze art, particularly those produced during the first two millennia BC. Bronzes from the Shang and Zhou dynasties bear witness to the creative spirit and remarkable technical mastery of Chinese craftsmen during the Bronze Age. Yet the value of these objects was not recognized until the 11th century. Previously, sculptors were not considered artists but craftsmen. Now, however, the practice is recognized as a true art form. 


 Jia Vase, between 1500 and 1300 BC, China, conserved at Musée Cernuschi, Musée des Arts de l'Asie de la ville de Paris  
 Jia Vase, between 1500 and 1300 BC, China, conserved at Musée Cernuschi, Musée des Arts de l'Asie de la ville de Paris  

As early as the Shang period, bronze was closely associated with funeral rites. The quantity of bronze used for ritual vases far exceeds that used for weapons or agricultural tools, underlining the importance of ritual practices at the time. These vases were used to invoke the spirits of deceased aristocrats and natural deities. They featured complex, mysterious shapes, such as the Taotie "glutton" mask, whose meaning remains hypothetical. It is thought to be a stylized, symmetrical representation of an imaginary animal. In some respects, it resembles a tiger, in others an ox or a sheep. The animal is described as a ferocious, voracious creature. Studies of the texts and inscriptions that could be read on them, combined with a scientific approach to the funerary ensembles, have enabled us to better understand their role and importance in Bronze Age cultures.


Focus on the taotie mask, zun vase, between 1300 and 1050 BC, China, conserved at Musée Cernuschi, Musée des Arts de l'Asie de la ville de Paris
Focus on the taotie mask, zun vase, between 1300 and 1050 BC, China, conserved at Musée Cernuschi, Musée des Arts de l'Asie de la ville de Paris

 


In those days, each unique piece was cast directly in a single-use mold. Under the Zhou, religion evolved and bronzes became objects of commemoration and status symbols. But under the Han dynasty, bronzes lost their religious value and their royal and spiritual symbolism to become mainly decorative objects. Finally, throughout the Chinese Empire (221 BC - 1911), bronzes continued to be used in a variety of applications, from ornaments to monumental sculptures. Forms and motifs evolved, incorporating foreign influences and innovating in style.


Yu vase, between 1199 and 1100 BC, China, conserved at Musée Cernuschi, musée des Arts de l'Asie de la ville de Paris
Yu vase, between 1199 and 1100 BC, China, conserved at Musée Cernuschi, musée des Arts de l'Asie de la ville de Paris


Lovers of archaic bronzes prefer to concentrate on the Shang and Zhou periods, where unusual shapes and beautiful patinas, such as jade green, are highly sought-after. Casting quality and high-relief motifs are also factors to consider: taotie, dragon and snake motifs are common, but less common ones such as elephants, owls and rams are highly prized.

 

Bronze is a material that can be imitated by regal and brass. To verify its authenticity, you'll need to check several factors. Firstly, its weight, since bronze is a solid alloy. Secondly, its patina: green or yellow traces, which are a sign of oxidation, would reveal the presence of bronze, while white traces would be synonymous with regule. Scratches, which are more frequent on brass, should also be analyzed. Finally, if there are engravings, they should be fine and precise if it's a bronze sculpture. 

 

As for dating, a stylistic analysis, a search for signatures and information or writing inside and outside the sculpture, will give us an idea of when the bronze was made.


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