This vessel had been in the collection of the eminent court official Duanfang (1861-1911). The resulting smooth, blackish brown surface is characteristic of many bronzes that have come down to us from collections of the 19th century and earlier. It was subsequently cleaned, recoated, and darkened probably by heating. Cast on the inside wall is the family emblem Bing.Originally golden in color, this vessel developed a surface corrosion or patina during centuries of burial underground. This type of three-legged cauldron is the most common of all ritual vessels even after the end of China’s Bronze Age, it remained a symbol of the political authority and legitimacy of the ruling house. The low ridge or flange, which bisects each mask, marks a division in the clay mold assembly used to cast this vessel. Each mask is composed of prominent horns, eyes, nose, upper jaw, and ears. The molds were imprinted with designs from the model, then the model was cut or carved down to allow for bronze to be poured in the empty space between the model and. They were cast using ceramic piece molds, built around a clay model. Bronze On this vessel, monster masks are cast in bold, high relief against a background of finely squared spirals, in a style that reflects the fullest development of Shang surface design. Ritual bronze vessels were more than just elegant objects of status, but symbols of power, commanding respect. This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage. Alamy charges you a fee for access to the high resolution copy of the image. This image is a public domain image, which means either that copyright has expired in the image or the copyright holder has waived their copyright.
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