Page 162 - Sotheby's NYC September 20 2022 Forging An Empire Bronzes

L AV I S H S U R FAC E

OR N A M E N T A T I O N OF

T H E WA R R I N G S T A T E S : A

M A G N I F I C E N T I N L A I D F A N G H U

周禮華彝：青銅嵌孔雀石錯銅龍紋方壺

ichly ornamented with horizontally-arranged geometric friezes outlined with copper wire
and strips, and partially filled with small malachite chips, the present ritual vessel, fang hu,
Ris a testament to the lavish bronze culture of the Warring States period (480-222 BC) of
the Eastern Zhou dynasty(770-221 BC).

As with preceding periods of China’s bronze age, ritual bronze vessels were of very high importance in
Zhou society and were used during sacrificial ceremonies to offer food and wine to ancestors to obtain
their protection. As the offerings were subsequently jointly consumed at ritual banquets, they also
served to bond family clans. A vessel such as the present fang hu might have been used to contain wine
in such ceremonies that were held at ancestral temples.

Ritual bronze vessels during this period generally adopted relatively simple forms, gradually losing
the high cast relief decoration, elaborate flanges and zoomorphic forms seen on bronzes of the earlier
Shang and Western Zhou periods; meanwhile their surfaces were gradually ornamented with visually
dazzling geometric designs. With clever use of the techniques for inlaying different materials, the
craftsmen enriched the monochrome bronze surface to create a unique multi-colored design.

此方壺華飾繁縟，錯銅幾何紋橫貫器身，並鑲嵌細 戰國時期的青銅禮器外形大多較為簡單。商、周時
小孔雀石，足見東周戰國時期精湛卓絕的青銅器鑄 期深峻的浮雕、精美的扉棱和獸面紋逐漸消失，取
造工藝。 而代之的是引人注目的幾何紋樣。工匠以高超的技
藝巧鑲不同物料，在色澤單一的青銅器表面鋪排出
青銅禮器早於周朝就已深受重視。古人在祭祀時
用禮器盛載食物與酒供奉祖先，祈求庇陰。儀式 獨一無二的設計。
過後，眾人一同享用祭品，因此祭祀亦有家族聯
誼之效。如本品之方壺，或為過去宗廟祭祀儀式的
盛酒器。