constricted-waist bronze jue, late Xia, 18th-16th century BC
tubelar spout bronze jue, late Xia, 18th-16th century BC
bronze jia, late Xia, 18th-16th century BC
bronze ding (food vessel) with cloud pattern, late Xia, 18th-16th century BC
bronze yue with inlays, late Xia, 18th-16th century BC
bronze jue (wine vessel), early Shang, 16th-mid 15th century BC
bronze jue, mid Shang, mid 15th-13th century BC
bronze gu (wine vessel), early Shang, 16th-mid 15th century BC
bronze gu, mid Shang, mid 15th-13th century BC
bronze jia, mid Shang, mid 15th-13th century BC
bronze jia, Shang
bronze jia, early Shang, 16th-mid 15th century BC
bronze hu, mid Shang, mid 15th-13th century BC
flat-legged ding with dragon design, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze zun, mid Shang, mid 15th-13th century BC
bronze zun, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Fu Yi gong, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze ding, early Shang, 16th-mid 15th century BC
bronze ding, mid Shang, mid 15th-13th century BC
bronze li, mid Shang, mid 15th-13th century BC
Lu Zhu ding jue, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
Ya Qi jue, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Yao jue, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Fu Fu Xin jue, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
design patterns
Xi jue, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
jue, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Zhu jue, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Fu Yi zhi, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
zhi (wine vessel), late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Fu Geng zhi, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
Xiao Chen Shan zhi, King Chen reign, W. Zhou, early 11th century BC
bronze gu, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze gu with dragon design, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Huang gu, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Gong gu, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
E. Shu gui, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
Ren gui, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
Ya Fu square lei, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
lei with animal mask, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze you with thunder pattern, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
bronze you with animal mask design, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
Yue Fu you, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
jia with animal mask, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze jia
Ya Qi jia, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
Fu Wu square yi, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
square yi with animal mask & lid, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Ding square yi, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze he, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Ya he, King Chen reign, W. Zhou, early 11th century BC
zun with animal mask & ram heads, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
zun, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Gui Gu square zun, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
zun of Marquis Lu, King Kang reign, W. Zhou, early 11th century BC
bronze hu, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Xiao Zi Sheng hu, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
hu with animal mask, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze ding, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Liu ding, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
ding with animal mask, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
Jiao ding, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
Ya Xu square ding, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
De square ding, King Chen reign, W. Zhou, early 11th century BC
Hou Chuo square ding, King Shao reign, W. Zhou, late 11th century BC
Fu Wu square ding, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Ben li, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
bronze li, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Nan Shan yan (steamer), early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
bronze yan with animal mask, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Jia gui, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
Mu Gui yan, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
De ding, King Chen reign, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
bronze pou with 4 ram heads, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Fu Yi yu (food vessel), late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Ge Fu Ding gui, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze gui with phoenix design, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
bronze gui, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Huang gui, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Chong gui, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
bronze pou, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze pou with nipple & thunder pattern, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze nao, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Zhong nao, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Ya Xu nao, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Yuan nao, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze dao, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
yue with dragon head, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
yue with elephant head, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
dao (knife), late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
ge with animal mask, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
ge with thunder pattern, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
ge with dragon design, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
ge with inlaid animal mask, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
ge with dragon design, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
ge with animal mask on handle, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze mao, flame pattern, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
bronze mao, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
Da Ke ding, King Xiao, W. Zhou, late 10th century BC
Zhong Ji li, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
bronze li, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
bronze li of Count Xi, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
Guo Zhong li, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
bronze yan, mid W. Zhou, 11th-10th century BC
Jin Bo Fu yan, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
ding of Duke Qin, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
Chuo Cao ding, King Gong reign, W. Zhou, mid 10th century BC
Song ding, King Xuan reign, W. Zhou, 827-782 BC
bronze ding, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
Shu Shuo Fu square yan, W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
Dui zun, mid W. Zhou, 11th-10th century BC
Xiao you, King Gong reign, W. Zhou, mid 10th century BC
Feng Mo Fu you, mid W. Zhou, 11th-10th century BC
Gong zun, mid W. Zhou, 11th-10th century BC
Zhong Yi Fu ling, mid W. Zhou, end of 11th-end of 10th century BC
bronze he, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
square yi of Shi Ju, King Gong reign, W. Zhou, mid 10th century BC
Qi Zhong hu, King Gong reign, W. Zhou, mid 10th century BC
bronze jue, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
Guo Jiang hu, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
square hu with dragon design, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
Shi Hu gui, King Yi reign, W. Zhou, late 10th century BC
Gui of Duke Qin, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
Xu of Marquis Jin, Fu, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
Liang Qi xu, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
Shi Huan gui, King Xuan reign, W. Zhou, 827-782 BC
pan (water vessel) of Zi Zhong Jiang, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
pan of Zi Zhong Jiang, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
bronze gui of Marquis of Jin, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
Peng Sheng gui, King Gong, W. Zhou, mid 10th century BC
Bo Yu (food vessel), mid W. Zhou, end 11th-end 10th century BC
zhong (bell), late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
bronze pen, mid W. Zhou, 11th-10th century BC
bronze fu, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
Shan She Hu fu, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
Fu, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
Yi of Marquis Qi, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
Bo Zhe Jun pan, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
inscriptions on Bo Zhe Jun pan, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
Liang Qi zhong, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
bo bell with 4 tigers, late W. Zhou, early 9th century-771 BC
bo of Duke of Qin, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
bronze bells of Marquis Su of Jin, King Li reign, W. Zhou, mid 9th century BC
bronze ding, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
bronze hu, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
bronze hu, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
flat hu with rope pattern, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
bronze hu of Zhi, King of Yan, late Warring States, mid 4th century-221 BC
he of Marquis Chuncheng, late Warring States, mid 4th century-221 BC
bird-shape he with silver inlay, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
he with bird-shape spout, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
bei with banquet scene, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
You Wu Shi Jun yan (steamer), late Warring States, mid 4th century-221 BC
ding, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
ding, late Warring States, mid 4th century-221 BC
ding, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
ox-shape zun, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC, found 1923 in Shanxi
ox-shape zun, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
hu, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
He gui, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
Gui of King Shao, Chu State, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
bronze pen, mid Spring & Autumn, early 7th-early 6th century BC
Shi Shi fu, mid Spring & Autumn, early 7th-early 6th century BC
square hu, late Warring States, mid 4th century-221 BC
hu, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
taotie & ring from hu, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
fou (water vessel), early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
fou, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
dui, late Warring States, mid 4th century-221 BC
dui, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
bronze pu, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
dou, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
dou, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
bo bell, mid Spring & Autumn, early 7th-early 6th century BC
top of bo bell, mid Spring & Autumn, early 7th-early 6th century BC
yi (water vessel), late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
Zhe Shang pan, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
Zhe Shang pan inscription, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
zhong, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
Zhe Jian zhong, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
Er zhong, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
Qu Hu ge, late Warring States, mid 4th century-221 BC
ge of Prince Jia, Cai State, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
ge with openwork cloud pattern, early Warring States, 475-mid 4th century BC
Jian of Guang, King of Wu State, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
mao, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
mao with wood case, late Warring States, mid 4th century-221 BC
bronze jian (water vessel) of Fu Chai, King of Wu State, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
Fu Chai jian handle, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
bronze ding, Spring & Autumn
bronze ding, Spring & Autumn, closeup of handle
bronze hu wine jar, Spring & Autumn
bronze hu wine jar, Spring & Autumn, closeup of handle
bronze drum stand, late Spring & Autumn
lu bells, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
lei, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
zun with dragon handles, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
dragon handle from zun, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
fou (food vessel), Warring States
bronze ornament, Warring States
bronze ornament, W. Han
chariot part with camel head, Warring States
deer shape ornaments, Warring States
willow leaf shape jian with tiger pommel, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
jian with tiger grip, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
jian with paired tiger grip, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
3 jian from previous images, early Spring & Autumn, 770-early 7th century BC
jian with horse head, late Shang, & jian with mushroom grip, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
jian, late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC
2 jian (above), late Spring & Autumn, early 6th century-476 BC; jian (below) Warring States
dao with horse head & hedgehog hilt, late Shang; dao with standing bear end, early Spring & Autumn; plain dao, early Spring & Autumn
dao, Spring & Autumn
bronze cowrie container with 8 yaks, W. Han
handle of bronze cowrie container with 8 yaks, W. Han
bronze pillow with 5 yaks, W. Han
bronze li, early Spring & Autumn
bronze ding, late Spring & Autumn
bronze zun, late Spring & Autumn
bronze you, early Spring & Autumn
bronze yu, late Spring & Autumn
bronze zheng, Spring & Autumn
jian (top) of Zhou Gou, King of Yue State, early Warring States; jian (bottom) of Zhe Zhi Yu Yi, King of Yue State, early Warring States
jian of Zhou Gou, King of Yue State, early Warring States
jian of Zhe Zhi Yu Yi, King of Yue State, early Warring States
mao of Zhe Zhi Yu Yi, King of Yue State, early Warring States
mao, late Spring & Autumn
zhong, Warring States, Ba minority
ge, animal mask, Warring States, Ba minority
ge with tiger design, Warring States, Ba minority
ge, Warring States, Ba minority
fu (axe), Warring States, Ba minority
cha (farm tool) with animal mask, Warring States, Ba minority
jian, Warring States, Ba minority
mao, Warring States, Ba minority
statue of lady, W. Han, Dian minority
cha weapon with snake head, W. Han, Dian minority
mao with leopard, W. Han, Dian minority
ge with 2 otters fishing, W. Han, Dian minority
ox on tiger ornament, W. Han, Dian minority
gilt combat scene, W. Han, Dian minority
ox head, W. Han, Dian minority
belt ornament with monkey design, W. Han, Dian minority
belt ornament inlaid with turquoise, W. Han, Dian minority
bronze drum of SW minorities, Northern & Southern Dynasties, 420-589 AD (flash lighting)
bronze drum of SW minorities, Northern & Southern Dynasties, 420-589 AD
bronze drum of SW minorities, E. Han
bronze drum of SW minorities, W. Han
mine props, Spring & Autumn
copper slag, Spring & Autumn
copper ingot, Spring & Autumn
copper ingot, W. Zhou
remains from smelting furnace, Spring & Autumn
bronze ding, Warring States
bronze ge, early Spring & Autumn
Warring States jian & model of mold for casting pommel
Warring States jian hilt
model of mold for casting jian hilt
bronze model for stack-casting moulds of chariot fittings, Warring States
clay mould made from bronze model (repro)
section view of stack-casting mould of gear, Han
section view of stack-casting moulds of gear, Han
stack-casting clay moulds, Han
bronze mould for bunch-casting & cast objects, Han
"transparent" bronze mirror, W. Han
bronze ge with iron blade, early Spring & Autumn
Warring States jian cross section
bimetallic bronze jian, Warring States; bottom, King of Yue State
Warring States jian
King of Yue State jian, early Warring States, showing wrapping on hilt
bimetallic casting
chemical composition of bimetallic bronze jian
alloy formulas and properties
bronze jia, middle Shang, mid 15th-13th century BC
bronze ding, W. Zhou
bronze ge, E. Zhou
bronze jian, Warring States
bronze mirror, Warring States
bronze mirror, W. Han
bronze mirror, Tang
burn-out casting & lost-wax process
burn-out casting: cord used as model for handle
burn-out casting: covering cord with mold
burn-out casting: burning the cord
burn-out casting: finished bronze handle
burn-out casting final product
bronze you, appendage by burn-out casting, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC
step 1: making a clay core
step 2: covering the core with wax
step 3: carving the wax model
step 4: making a wax stand with interlaced dragon design
step 5: assembling the runners and wax model
step 6: making a complete outer mold
step 7: baking to release the wax from inside
step 8: pouring the molten bronze into the runners
step 9: breaking the mold
step 10: finished body of censer
gilt-bronze censer, Han
lost-wax casting of bronze mirror: stone model, Han
lost-wax casting of bronze mirror: wax model (repro)
chemical analysis from early foundry
1: making a clay model
2: copying the outer molds from the clay model
3: engraving the pattern
4: carving the inscriptions
5: making the clay core (inner mold)
6: combining the core and outer molds
7: covering with a paste of grass & loess, baked dry before casting
8: cleaning up & polishing after casting
whetstones, Shang
clay cores from inner mould, late Spring & Autumn, Shanxi
clay master model, late Spring & Autumn, Shanxi
clay mould, late Spring & Autumn
clay mould, late Shang, 13th-11th century BC, Yinxu foundry site, Anyang
gu, late Shang, one-piece casting
chariot & horse harness fittings, late Spring & Autumn
soldered chained hu, Warring States
bronze chain, Han
bronze you, early W. Zhou, 11th century BC
surface treatment & decorative techniques
jian, Warring States, tiger stripes pattern
ge with bright spots, Warring States
mao & jian, late Spring & Autumn
jian, late Spring & Autumn
Tang bronze mirror after silver-white surface treatment
bronze hu with copper inlay, late Warring States
inlaid bronze belthook, late Warring States
pendant with turquoise inlay, Shang
bronze hu with painted cloud pattern, W. Han
tiger shape buckle with gold & silver inlays, late Warring States
scepter head inlaid with gems & gold, late Warring States
