Page 71 - Later Chinese Bronzes from the Collection of Ulrich-Hk 2014
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CATALOGUE NOTE
Much has been speculated about the legendary collection of bronzes of the Song emperor Huizong, whose collection
of around 800 bronzes was published in 1126 in the Bogutulu. We know little about which of these bronzes were
archaic and which were new vessels, commissioned by Imperial command in the archaic tradition.
The present example follows a Zhou dynasty ding form and is of similar size and comparable weight to the archaic
prototype. The rich patina created by generations of handling indicates that the vessel has not been excavated but
has been treasured and passed on over many centuries. For a ding vessel with an inscription of the Zhenghe period,
Northern Sung Dynasty, dated A.D. 1116, see Art and Culture of the Sung Dynasty, National Palace Museum, Taipei,
2000, p. 100.
