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A gold medalist in bronze restoration
By Wang Jie |
May 26, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
RESTORING ancient bronze vessels is a delicate and time-consuming process. Qian Qing from Shanghai Museum takes Wang Jie through the process step by step.
Some of the most important pieces of Chinese art are ancient bronzes. They are so precious that they warrant a separate catalogue in the imperial art collection.
But over times, patterns on ancient bronzes become blurred as they eroded, and worse, they can break into pieces.
A special group at Shanghai Museum works painstakingly and patiently to restore ancient bronzes to near original condition before they are exhibited.
"This is rather a particular job," says Qian Qing, a restoration expert at Shanghai Museum. "All the skills and knowledge have been taught to us under the tutorship of several shifu (master)."
China's Bronze Age began in the Xia Dynasty (21st century-16th century BC), and bronze ritual containers form the bulk of the collection. The Bronze Age reached its zenith during the Zhou Dynasty (11th century-770 BC).
The bronze ware is categorized according to function - everything from wine, food, water and sacrifice vessels to musical instruments, weapons and measuring containers.
The most highly prized are the sacrificial and wine vessels.
For Qian and his peers, the first task is identifying the type of vessel.
Restoration work can take decades. For example, the restoration of a 2,000-year-old water vessel started in 1996.
However, about two months ago Shanghai Museum received a donation from Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The money will be used to buy imported high-tech equipment that will help speed up the restoration process.
"Since working here, I have learned the true meaning of the word patience," Qian says. "Sometimes a small segment of a piece takes several months under your hands."
According to Qian, water vessels were popular during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-467 BC) and the Warring States Period (476-221 BC).
The large bronze was used to store water for bathing and has a very fragile surface. It has an average thickness of 1.5 millimeters, but is only 1mm at its thinnest sections.
After identifying the type of vessel, Qian and his team start by cleaning it. If a vessel is broken they will clean it before putting it back together.
"Due to our experience, we are now masters at putting puzzles together," Qian says, joking.
"Based on its original pattern and looking at similar vessels, we try to make each piece harmonious in color, materials and shape," Qian says. "We use various chemical agents to achieve the visual effect of aging colors."
The team also uses special tools, some of which they made themselves.
"See, this is a surgeon's knife and this is a dentist's rasp," Qian says. "But after some small adjustments, they have become perfect tools for our work."
Qian says the more he works with a particular piece, the more he loves his job.
"It is like I am communicating with our ancestors, while at the same time, it also involves a chemical and physical process," he says.
The only part of the job he doesn't like is the fumes from the chemical agents.
"The smell is poisonous and I had a very serious allergic reaction one year. I had to take a leave of absence," he says. "But after a year of therapy and rest, I couldn't resist the charm of these ancient bronze pieces. Now I am back, back to where I belong."
Some of the most important pieces of Chinese art are ancient bronzes. They are so precious that they warrant a separate catalogue in the imperial art collection.
But over times, patterns on ancient bronzes become blurred as they eroded, and worse, they can break into pieces.
A special group at Shanghai Museum works painstakingly and patiently to restore ancient bronzes to near original condition before they are exhibited.
"This is rather a particular job," says Qian Qing, a restoration expert at Shanghai Museum. "All the skills and knowledge have been taught to us under the tutorship of several shifu (master)."
China's Bronze Age began in the Xia Dynasty (21st century-16th century BC), and bronze ritual containers form the bulk of the collection. The Bronze Age reached its zenith during the Zhou Dynasty (11th century-770 BC).
The bronze ware is categorized according to function - everything from wine, food, water and sacrifice vessels to musical instruments, weapons and measuring containers.
The most highly prized are the sacrificial and wine vessels.
For Qian and his peers, the first task is identifying the type of vessel.
Restoration work can take decades. For example, the restoration of a 2,000-year-old water vessel started in 1996.
However, about two months ago Shanghai Museum received a donation from Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The money will be used to buy imported high-tech equipment that will help speed up the restoration process.
"Since working here, I have learned the true meaning of the word patience," Qian says. "Sometimes a small segment of a piece takes several months under your hands."
According to Qian, water vessels were popular during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-467 BC) and the Warring States Period (476-221 BC).
The large bronze was used to store water for bathing and has a very fragile surface. It has an average thickness of 1.5 millimeters, but is only 1mm at its thinnest sections.
After identifying the type of vessel, Qian and his team start by cleaning it. If a vessel is broken they will clean it before putting it back together.
"Due to our experience, we are now masters at putting puzzles together," Qian says, joking.
"Based on its original pattern and looking at similar vessels, we try to make each piece harmonious in color, materials and shape," Qian says. "We use various chemical agents to achieve the visual effect of aging colors."
The team also uses special tools, some of which they made themselves.
"See, this is a surgeon's knife and this is a dentist's rasp," Qian says. "But after some small adjustments, they have become perfect tools for our work."
Qian says the more he works with a particular piece, the more he loves his job.
"It is like I am communicating with our ancestors, while at the same time, it also involves a chemical and physical process," he says.
The only part of the job he doesn't like is the fumes from the chemical agents.
"The smell is poisonous and I had a very serious allergic reaction one year. I had to take a leave of absence," he says. "But after a year of therapy and rest, I couldn't resist the charm of these ancient bronze pieces. Now I am back, back to where I belong."
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