The Paper has learned that the University museum of art at the University of Hong Kong is recently holding a special exhibition on "Tempering and Casting: Ancient Chinese Bronzes and Modern Silverware", which exhibits the collection of early Chinese bronzes and a batch of silverware, and discusses artistic creation from a scientific and technical perspective. The exhibition not only confirms that ancient civilization is hidden in one instrument and one thing, but also highlights the wisdom of the sages who "gave the vast and the subtle".
The special exhibition "Tempering and Casting: Ancient Chinese Bronzes and Modern Silverware" is one of the "Art Creation Startup" exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts of the University of Hong Kong. The project aims to explore artistic creation from a scientific and technical point of view, and to dissect how materials and techniques have created various artistic treasures in Chinese cultural history. Through the juxtaposition of early Chinese bronze treasures and a batch of silverware customised by Hui Kee Jewellery (founded in 1885) for 20th-century Hong Kong connoisseur Mr Kwan Sai Tak, the exhibition reveals the enduring exquisite metal craftsmanship of Chinese culture through the juxtaposition of early Chinese bronze treasures and a batch of silverware customised by Hui Kee Jewellery (founded in 1885).
Animal face cloud pattern bronze
Gui-shaped bowl Silverware
Bronze castings from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties (c. 1600 BC to 256 BC) are the most prestigious daily and ceremonial vessels in Asian material culture. In terms of materials and technologies, the excellent alloys and exquisite casting techniques used in Shang zhou bronzes not only confirm that ancient civilizations are hidden in one instrument and one thing, but also highlight the wisdom of the sages "to the vast and subtle".
Bronzes are native to smelting sites in the Yellow River Basin in central China and are made from copper-tin alloys with different lead content. Many of these artifacts are decorated with cloud patterns, animal faces or other auspicious symbols.
The timeless and noble beauty of bronze has made it highly praised to this day. In addition to being used as ceremonial vessels, bronzes are also used for cooking or storage, allowing viewers to glimpse the cultural style of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and connecting people with today's daily utensils. The ornate shape and practicality of the bronzes inspired future generations, especially in the modern silverware on display, where the craftsmanship highlights the long history of casting and engraving technology. The delicate and exquisite shapes of ancient and modern artifacts reflect each other, which is the best example of China's metal craftsmanship that has lasted for thousands of years.
Moiré mane Bronze
Bronze smelting and casting technology
Ancient Chinese bronzes (e.g. mane [lì]) were made with reference to traditional pottery, and some of them had the same ceremonial nature and daily functions as pottery. Compared with pottery, smelting and casting bronze is more difficult and expensive, but the pottery required to make copper casting is similar to pottery, and the craftsmen can actually use pottery technology and experience to make casting models.
The craftsman carefully poured the liquid copper-tin alloy into the pottery fan, and after it cooled and solidified, it was removed from the fan. With this method, the same ceramic fan can be reused to make castings of the same style. The shape and surface decoration of the casting depend on the outer wall of the outer model, that is, the part that is in direct contact with the outer layer of the casting. If more than one block is used when casting, the gap between the blocks will form a seam and remain on the surface of the finished product. When the craftsmen engrave decorative bronzes, they will remove these casting marks, highlighting the exquisite and regular form of the finished product.
Cloud-veined bronze
Knight-shaped cup silverware
Bronze engraving process
Bronze casts with fine ornamentation on the surface are often engraved with zinc (zàn). Engraved as a metalworking technique – the uneven, dark and light mark pattern of the metal surface is created by hammering or combining with the hammer, which can be used to trim the details of the ornament and further refine the overall shape. This ancient metalworking technique does not require any metal to be cut, and can depict intricate detail with simple tools. The animal face ornaments or bands of the caster are often engraved and modified to perfection.
The hammering technique can be applied to later bronzes with thin walls, or to works made of soft metals such as silver. This method makes full use of the extensibility of the metal itself, from the repeated hammering of the inner wall of the utensil to the shape of the instrument or ornament, and the finished product has a bas-relief effect. After being shaped by the hammering technique, the craftsman then adds details from the outer wall with the engraving technique. From time to time, the engraving technique is used alternately with the engraving technique, but unlike engraving, the engraving technique requires the metal on the surface of the work to be cut off to form a pattern.
String patterned bronze
Dragon pattern ding bronze
Appreciate silverware
Silver (chemical element symbol Ag) has soft, white and lustrous properties. Like copper, it is the most commonly used chemical element for the production of alloys, and it is used to cast different tools by mixing other metals to increase the hardness. Silver is commonly used in China in bowl and jewelry making, such as hairpins and combs. Modern Hong Kong silvermaking technology is deeply influenced by Chinese and Western silverware, which combines precise alloy proportions and metalworking techniques to show a unique style.
Standard sterling silver originated in the 12th century in Continental Europe, originally traded in what is now northern Germany, and its silver content standard was first established in England in 1275: 92.5% of silver, the remaining 7.5% of other metals dominated by copper. Although standard sterling silver is heavily used in European crafts, local jewellery producers in Hong Kong also use this strict proportion, high silver content and soft metal to make Chinese utensils. Just like the silver tableware on display, it not only presents the position of standard sterling silver in the local silvermaking process, but also reflects the distinctive characteristics of the Bronze Ware style of the Shang Zhou.
Bristles Silverware
Dun-shaped lid bowl silverware
Ding-shaped bowl silverware
Uses of bronzes
Unlike pottery, which is used as a daily food vessel, bronze ware is mainly used for ceremonial activities in Jongmyo temples and funerals. In terms of practicality, although the use of bronze is related to daily life, its primary use is closely related to ancestor worship activities. The bronzes of the Shang and Zhou dynasties were varied and were classified according to their dietary and storage uses. Mane and ding are used as cooking meat, and knights, axes and horns are used as warm wine. It is used to hold food, while it is used to hold wine.
Animal face tattoo bronze
Razor-shaped lid bowl silverware
The lid is used for dual purposes, such as the lid is usually attached to the foot, in addition to the body for cooking meat, the lid can also be upside down to hold food. The ritual use of bronze artifacts highlights their exalted status and reveals the meaning of the bronze ornamentation: for example, the cloud pattern has an auspicious meaning - "cloud" is similar to the sound of "luck" meaning luck.
Exhibition posters
Hammering and casting: ancient Chinese bronzes and modern silverware
Venue: Museum of Fine Arts, University of Hong Kong
Date: December 18, 2021 - March 20, 2022