Chapter 1,409 The national treasure among national treasures
"I knew you would like it. If it weren't for the lack of time, I would have had the idea to copy a few more better cows based on the rubbings of the Five Cows Picture." Zheng Yu said with a smile.
Chen Wenzhe nodded, this is a good idea.
"Zheng Yu is a good flatterer. Didn't he just want to say you're awesome? That's why he made so many comments!" Zhang Yijie said with disdain.
Zheng Yu didn't say anything, he just smiled.
Chen Wenzhe walked in and took a look. These imitations were not simple, because their original versions were even more complicated.
Not to mention the Ox-Tiger Bronze Eucalyptus, this is a bronze of the same level as the Four-Yang Fangzun and the Horse-Treading Flying Swallow.
As for the bronze bull statue, there is another lying gilt bronze bull statue which is not simple either.
The Western Zhou Dynasty was the heyday of bronze art in ancient my country. As the ruling center of the Western Zhou Dynasty, Xishan was known as the hometown of bronzes.
The bronze bull statue now collected in the Shaanxi History Museum is one of its masterpieces.
The cow statue is 24 centimeters high, 38 centimeters long, and 10.7 centimeters deep. The whole body is in the shape of a cow.
Niu Zun is extremely rare among wine vessels, and its design is extremely clever.
The cow's mouth is slightly open and its tongue is slightly sticking out. This is where the bronze statue pours wine;
The ox tail is bent and drooped, and the end is connected to the body of the ox, becoming the handle of the statue;
The most unique thing is the lid of the cow statue. There is a square opening on the cow's back as the lid, and the lid button is a standing tiger. The lid and the cow's back are connected with a ring button, which can be opened at will without falling off.
The belly, back and feet of the cow are fully decorated with gorgeous and smooth cloud patterns and Kui dragon patterns, which are known for their solemn and majestic artistic beauty.
Judging from the shape of the horns and the body of the cow, this may be a buffalo.
This cow is definitely not simple. Not to mention other things, just its artistic quality is better than many bronzes.
However, if he read it correctly, the lying gilt-bronze bull should be a national treasure known as the best bull in Xixia.
The current treasure of the Xia Ning Museum is the gilt-bronze bull unearthed from the Xixia royal tomb in 1977, known as the "No. 1 Cow in Xixia".
The cow is 1.2 meters long and weighs 188 kilograms.
The gilt-bronze bull is in a recumbent shape, with two horns on its head. The angles are graceful and the body is strong. Even the crest in the middle is vaguely visible.
The gilt-bronze bull with wide eyes seems to be resting on the ground after working all day.
Suddenly hearing the master's call, he raised his head and looked at each other, with a strong sense of expressiveness.
The gilt copper bull is molded and cast, with a hollow interior and a gilt exterior, reflecting the superb level of Xixia bronze casting technology. It can be said to be a national treasure among national treasures.
To be honest, this Xixia number one is also very legendary.
In 1038 AD, the Dangxiang tribe established the Xixia Dynasty, which was called Xixia in history because it was located in the northwest of my country.
In 1227 AD, Xixia was destroyed by the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, and all cultural relics and classics were destroyed.
The once prosperous Xixia Dynasty was gradually buried in the dust of history and became a little-known "mysterious ancient country"...
In 1972, the state officially made the decision to excavate the tombs of the Xixia kings.
After many efforts, archaeological experts finally entered the Xixia royal tomb, which is 21 meters underground and is known as the "Oriental Pyramid", only to find that the cultural relics had been looted by tomb robbers.
Seeing this scene, everyone was devastated.
A young archaeologist was so angry that he kicked the wooden door that had long since decayed under his feet.
Suddenly, two golden horns burst out of the door.
When I dug it out, I found it was a gilt copper bull.
It turned out that the tomb door blown down by the tomb robbers happened to cover the "gilt bronze bull".
Therefore, it has escaped the eyes of tomb robbers and has survived to this day.
Because of this incident, the gilt bronze bull is also known as "the national treasure that was kicked out".
As a masterpiece of Xixia cultural relics, it has exquisite craftsmanship and is known as "the best of Xixia". It is now the "treasure of the museum" in Xia Ning Museum.
In 1996, the National Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee determined it to be a "national treasure".
Later, when I went abroad to exhibit in Italy, the domestic insured value was 200 million.
Of course, if it were to be sold, it might not be worth 200 million, but given China's current national conditions, it might be worth far more than 200 million.
Not to mention anything else, just the delicate side of the copper bull is very amazing.
You must know that this gilt copper bull is 120 cm long, 38 cm wide, 45 cm high, and weighs 188 kilograms.
The most important thing is that its whole body reflects soft golden light. This effect is very pleasing at first sight.
Also, according to Chen Wenzhe's classification of the production levels of artworks, this kind of work must be at the master level.
Because whether it's expression or posture, this bull's head is impeccable.
Its four legs are bent inwards and it is kneeling down; its head is raised high, with a calm demeanor.
The two corners are curved gracefully, the neck is broad, and the body is strong;
His eyes were bright, yet gentle.
It is not easy to make a big bull to such an extent that when people look at it, they will find it is a bronze bull sitting upright.
The "gilt copper bull" is very exquisite in workmanship and is molded and cast.
The inside of the belly is hollow, and the outside is completely gilded, but most of it has fallen off because of time.
Now we can only imagine its glory and splendor back then based on the vaguely visible mottled spots.
Gilding is a very ancient metal processing technology that originated in the pre-Qin Dynasty and gradually matured in the Han Dynasty. It has been developed and used in all subsequent dynasties.
Its production method is: first apply the gold-mercury mixture (commonly known as gold mud) evenly on the surface of the vessel with a "gold-coating stick", and then bake it at an appropriate temperature to volatilize the mercury and retain the gold on the surface of the vessel;
After being washed, polished and pressed, a bright gilt layer emerges.
In the tombs of nobles of all dynasties, many gilded vessels were buried with them.
Since the gilding process is difficult, only highly skilled craftsmen can complete it.
The discovery of this gilt copper bull in a Xixia mausoleum shows that Xixia's metal smelting technology and handicrafts were in sync with the development of the Central Plains and were at a high level.
Although cultural relics cannot speak, they can reflect history.
The Xixia people initially focused on animal husbandry, so the livestock they raised were yaks, sheep, pigs, etc.
It was not until Li Yuanhao founded the country, who tried his best to absorb Han culture and promote the development of farming civilization, that the Xixia nation began to raise cattle.
Among the Xixia farming pictures that appear in the murals of Yulin Grottoes in Dunhuang, there is a plowing scene of "two oxen arguing".
Under such a cultural background, it was possible for Xixia people to create a gilt bronze bull.
Because at that time, the Xixia people's feelings towards cattle were the same as those of the Song Dynasty.
They cannot do without the work of cattle, nor can they do without the material results brought by cattle.
The gilt bronze bull is a witness to this period of history, as well as to the integration of nationalities and cultures.
It is definitely not easy to copy such a copper bull and it is very vivid.
And the most important thing is that there are several bronze bulls of this level here.
Big and small, golden and gray, they are all cows!
Just from the expressions of these cows, you can tell that Zheng Yu is definitely attentive.