If the price could be cheaper and the craftsmanship simpler, chimes would definitely become more popular, but even so, their status has been deeply ingrained in the world of percussion music.
After watching this set of chimes, Chen Wenzhe became less focused, mainly because of the bronzes at the back, which were a little less interesting than the chimes.
Until he saw a few pieces of bronze Fang Yi, this thing is Zong Yi? Is it Fang Yi?
Our country's wine culture has a long history, and there are many types of wine containers that have emerged as a result.
"Fang Yi" is one of them.
Fang Yi is an ancient wine vessel in my country, popular from the late Shang Dynasty to the mid-Western Zhou Dynasty.
Yi is originally a general name for bronze ritual vessels, and people in the Song Dynasty first called such vessels Fang Yi.
Our country's bronze wares are exquisitely made and enjoy a high reputation and artistic value among the world's bronze wares.
This represents the superb technology and culture of bronze development in our country for more than 5,000 years.
From the late Shang Dynasty to the mid-Western Zhou Dynasty, it was the heyday of the development of bronze ware. The types of bronze ware were diverse, thick and dignified, the inscriptions were gradually lengthened, and the patterns were complicated and rich.
The bronze Fang Yi unearthed in Xi County, western Shaanxi Province in 1955 is a typical representative of Fang Yi in the Western Zhou Dynasty.
This artifact was made during the reign of King Zhao and King Mu of the Western Zhou Dynasty, and is now in the National Museum.
Of course, there are still many ancient tombs of Zongyi unearthed, but just because this type of vessel is common does not mean that it is not precious.
Chen Wenzhe looked at a photo. The Zongyi taken in this photo is 22.8 cm tall, 14.4 cm wide, 10.9 cm wide, 9.6 cm deep, and weighs 3.6 kg.
A gourd is a drinking vessel like a ladle. Of course, it is definitely not a utensil here, but an official position. It is an official position one level higher than that of Sima and Sikong in ancient times.
The bronze Fang Yi piece in front of us has an elegant and solemn shape, intricate decoration, clear layers, and great artistic appeal. This must be a successful work of bronze art in the Western Zhou Dynasty.
The bronze Fang Yi is a wine vessel, and the whole vessel consists of two parts: the body and the lid.
The body of the vessel is rectangular, with a hollow body cavity. There are roll-shaped ears above the trunk on both sides of the abdomen. The feet are high and the bottom edge is stepped in the shape of an extravagant step.
The lid is in the shape of a four-A-style roof, with a four-A-style roof-shaped button in the center of the middle ridge;
The central ridge of the lid, the four slope corners and the four corners of the body are all equipped with door edges.
The whole body of the vessel is decorated with cloud and thunder patterns. The body and the middle part of the cover are decorated with scroll patterns. The two sides are decorated with Kui dragon patterns. The top is decorated with curved patterns, and the bottom of the circle is decorated with curved patterns.
The shape of the whole device is solemn and elegant, and the decoration is gorgeous.
Its overall shape reflects the sloping sides and double-house-style architectural structure at that time, allowing today's people to have a glimpse of the architectural style of the Zhou royal palace.
The entire surface of the vessel is covered with patterns. The most eye-catching thing is that the center of the lid and belly of the vessel are decorated with circular swirls composed of scrolls and cloud patterns.
This pattern is exactly the same as the main pattern of the Yuju Zun from the same place, which makes people wonder whether it is the emblem of a clan.
The top of the cover is decorated with a circular swirl pattern, and the two sides are decorated with Kui patterns.
The neck is decorated with a curved band and two concave grooves below it.
The decoration on the abdomen is similar to the decoration on the lid. It is also a combination of circular swirl patterns and Kui patterns, and is filled with cloud and thunder patterns.
The foot of the circle is decorated with a curved band, and is also separated from the belly of the vessel by two grooves.
This Zongyi piece has an inscription of 108 characters in 10 lines on the inner wall, describing an "inscription" of the maker by the King of Zhou in August of a certain year.
It is recorded that the person who made the utensil "砠" was the same clan as the King of Zhou.
King Zhou appointed Yu to be in charge of the military affairs and farming affairs of Situ, Sima, Sikong, Liudu Division and Yin Eighth Division.
He also gave generous rewards such as clothing, jade pendants, chariot and horse ornaments, etc.
Therefore, he made an instrument to remember his honor and praise the emperor's favor.
The official position of Yu is higher than that of Sanyousi, which is equivalent to some of Mao Gong's duties described in the inscription on Mao Gong's tripod during the reign of King Xuan of the Western Zhou Dynasty.
It can be seen that Yu was an important minister of the generation at that time and had a very high status, which could make up for the missing history.
The bronze Fang Yi is the earliest written record of farming in my country. It is an important material for studying the social politics, economy, military and calligraphy art of the Western Zhou Dynasty.
The decoration of Yufang Yi adopts relief techniques to create rough and bold text decorations. The relationship between the primary and secondary decorations is clear and the layers are very clear, achieving excellent artistic effects.
Its exquisite and mysterious decoration, rich and solemn body and inscriptions are organically integrated through casting, reproducing the glory of the bronze casting industry in the Western Zhou Dynasty.
It is no wonder that such a piece of bronze was taken out separately and carved with inscriptions to commemorate it, mainly because it is so important.
"Female the princes, grant the title of Zong Yi!"
This is the importance of Zong Yi. He is a token or a ritual gift given by the emperor during the feudal princes period!
This kind of thing rarely appears on the market, and Chen Wenzhe only knows about it.
It is the only Guo Ji bronze ware that can be circulated in the market.
I believe that many friends who love cultural relics and art have seen a heavyweight bronze in the National Museum of my country - Guo Jizi White Plate.
As a treasure of the museum, it is also one of the first batch of cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad (border) in my country.
But another artifact of equal status has recently appeared on the market.
Recently, Sotheby's New York grandly launched a famous bronze vessel in the world of epigraphy - the Guo Ji family pot.
This famous bronze vessel belongs to Zong Yi of the Guo Kingdom of the Western Zhou Dynasty.
Not only does it have an extremely rich source description, but it is also a rare and famous instrument in the world.
So, what is the origin of this piece of Guo Ji bronze that is said to be the only one that can be circulated on the market?
What experience did it have before entering the market?
What kind of bronze can enter the market? Then you need to have a comprehensive understanding of this heavy bronze and the story behind it.
The Guo Ji family's teapot has an extraordinary status in the world. Why has this Guo Ji family teapot attracted so much attention both inside and outside the industry when it was put up for auction?
We first need to know about the bronzes of the Guo Kingdom. The Guo Kingdom was an extremely important vassal state in the Western Zhou Dynasty of my country. Its king was connected by blood to the Zhou royal family and held a high position.
There have been five names of Guo State in historical documents: Xi Guo, Dong Guo, Nan Guo, Bei Guo and Xiao Guo.
Xi Guo and Dong Guo were established in the early Western Zhou Dynasty.
Xiguo is located in Yongzhou, the area around Baoji in present-day Western Shaanxi, and Dongguo is located in Xingyang County, present-day Nanhe Province.
The Guo culture, represented by Guo bronzes, is an important part of the Western Zhou culture.
Among the bronzes of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the bronzes of the Guo Kingdom are famous for their majestic shapes, exquisite decorations, and exquisite casting techniques.
Any piece you take out is a top-notch collection, such as the Guo Jizi white plate collected by the National Museum of my country that we mentioned earlier.
The Guo Ji family is an important clan in the Guo Kingdom and is a branch of the Guo Shu family, the founder of the Western Guo Kingdom.
He played an important role in the political situation of the Western Zhou Dynasty. Especially in the late Western Zhou Dynasty, the Guo Ji family successively had officials from the dynasty such as Guo Xuan Gong and Guo Wen Gong.
They played a powerful role in the ruling pattern of the Western Zhou Dynasty.
Therefore, the quality of their bronzes must be guaranteed.