Recalling significance

This exhibition raises an important point about the way Chinese bronzes are perceived, Lu says.

"Traditionally, when we think of Chinese bronzes, we tend to associate them with the Shang (c. 16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c. 11th century-256 BC) dynasties. However, this time, we wanted to focus on the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing periods. A simultaneous presentation of these later periods offers a fresh academic perspective and exploration."

The exhibition unfolds through five sections of different themes, beginning with "Reconstructing Ancient Rites", which explores how emperors and scholar-officials (12th-16th centuries) commissioned bronzes to revive ancient ceremonies.

"Experimenting with Styles" (13th-15th centuries) highlights creative reinterpretations of form and function, while "Establishing New Standards" (15th-17th centuries) examines aesthetic and technical innovations. "Living with Bronzes" (16th-19th centuries), displayed in the Ming Furniture Room, illustrates their role in literati life. The fifth section, "Harmonizing with Antiquity" (18th-19th centuries), reveals how scholarly appreciation led to a final flourishing of bronze production.

"Bronzes were not just ritual vessels used in ancient times," Lu says.

"During the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, they became decorative objects in studios — incense burners, vases and even elegant desk ornaments. During the Qianlong era, the rise of epigraphy brought the collection and reproduction of bronzes to new heights."