Having endured the ravages
of time and hazards of the elements, the surfaces of bronze
vessels that you see today have undergone extended periods
of chemical reactions that often generated a form of corrosion
known as patina. Stable forms of corrosion are actually
beneficial and can serve as a protective membrane for
the object, but malignant forms (known as "bronze
disease") require immediate professional conservation
treatment.
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The act of revivalism
is a way of going back in history, and it is also an opportunity
to gain a better understanding of and rapport with advanced
elements of the distant past. Ancient artifacts that have
been excavated and rediscovered have attracted much attention
from scholars ever since the Sung dynasty (960-1279).
The investigation of ancient works of art grew increasingly
prevalent, becoming so popular that it reached a peak
during the Ming (1368-1644) and Ch'ing (1644-1911) periods.
Those who were fond of antiquity went to no expense to
recreate a living environment of "archaic elegance".
As a result, be it a scholar searching for a refined and
classical lifestyle, or an aristocrat or merchant trying
to take on the airs of lofty archaism, all had a special
passion for objects and vessels that simulated and suggested
the forms and styles of the ancient past. With the demands
created by such a market, great numbers of archaistic
works of art were produced everywhere. As to how bronze
vessels were imitated in the Ming and Ch'ng dynasties,
the answer lies in the animation of this exhibition! |
