The differences in colours between the photos are due to the lighting and exposure. The original colour was closer to the blackish-grey, the overexposed version is to highlight the patterns on the zun 尊.
National Treasure 国宝
Bronze Zun (Wine Vessel) with Four Rams 四羊青铜方尊
Bronze ware | Late Shang Dynasty (c. 14th-11th centuries BC) | Dimensions – H: 58.3cm, Wt: ~34.5kg | National Museum of China, Unearthed at Ningxiang, Hunan Province, 1938. 青铜器｜商后期（约公元前14世纪一前11世纪）｜高58.3厘米，重约34.5公斤｜中国国家博物馆藏，1938年湖南宁乡出土
The bronze square zun 铜方尊 (wine vessel) with four ram-heads sculptures is a stunning piece of bronze ware dating to the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC). The vessel is decorated with four ram-head sculptures at each corner, and the exquisite patterns endow the vessel with arresting charm, a testimony to the superb bronze-casting technology of 3,000 years ago.
The zun vessel used in sacrificial ceremonies was unearthed from Ningxiang city, Hunan province in 1938. With curly horns, the four goats, looking solemn and calm, are cast on the corners. They face in four directions. Between each pair, there is a high-relief dragon wiggling along the sides. Given to the Kuomintang, the Four-Ram Square Zun was then kept in Hunan Provincial Bank.
In 1938, Japanese forces had invaded Changsha and the bank moved to Yuanling County in Hunan Province, along with the national treasure. But the bank was destroyed in a Japanese air raid and the delicate antique was shattered into dozens of pieces. After the war, the bank returned to Changsha while the fragments were stored in a warehouse of waste products.
Its turbulent history wasn’t figured out until 1952, when China’s first Premier Zhou Enlai ordered a search. After a year-long restoration, the national treasure was given new life. In 1959, the Four-goat Square Zun was transferred to the National Museum of China, where it remains until this day.
About Chinese National Treasure Series
中華國寶系列 Chinese National Treasure series feature specific artefacts and relics from museums all around the world that are historically significant to be considered a National Treasure. The series covers the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation from Neolithic periods before the Xia dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) to modern day.
0 comments on “National Treasure – Bronze Zun with Four Rams (Shang Dynasty)”