"Wisdom from history shines in the present; Objects from the past reflect craftsmanship. A moment’s gaze invites remembrance; The torch of civilization continues to be passed on."
In this first episode of Conserving Art at Shanghai Museum, we step behind the scenes to explore the meticulous work involved in conserving and reproducing ancient bronze wares—treasures that embody the technological brilliance and artistic spirit of early Chinese civilization.
Bronze artifacts, some dating back thousands of years, require careful preservation to protect their structure, inscriptions, and intricate decorative patterns. At the Shanghai Museum, conservators combine historical research, traditional craftsmanship, and modern scientific methods to stabilize, restore, and faithfully reproduce these remarkable objects.
Through close observation and skilled hands, damaged bronzes are studied, conserved, and sometimes recreated to better understand the techniques of ancient artisans. Each piece not only tells a story of the past but also carries forward the legacy of human creativity and cultural heritage.
Join us to discover how experts safeguard these precious artifacts and ensure that the wisdom and craftsmanship of history continue to illuminate the present.
For a repairman, a damaged relic is like a patient.
From a state of guilt and paralysis,
through your hands, it is restored to its original state.
You will feel a sense of accomplishment.
Jiang Peichen, a curator of the Shanghai Museum,
a third-generation inheritor of the antique bronzeware conservation and reproduction,
inscribed on the representative list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
This bronze shard was rescued from non-ferrous metal smeltering
by staff of the Shanghai Museum in the 1960s.
This shard is decorated with a delicate animal mask pattern
reflecting solemnity and mysteries of the past.
It is actually from the mid-Xiang Dynasty, mid-15th century to 13th century BCE.
The style is typical of the bronzes from the central plain back then.
Cast with a deco of archaic patterns,
this rare bronzeware is featured with typical mid-Xiang style.
However, it is in a damaged condition.
Only its mouth, neck, and part of its belly survived.
The foot rim, lid, and handle have been lost.
Only a third of the object survives.
The most important task of a restoration artist is to restore the original appearance of a cultural relic
and verify its original appearance through a large amount of food and tea.
The Xiang Dynasty society is hierarchically constructed.
Some objects for sacrificial ceremonies or banquets are granted with special meanings.
This historical shard encapsulates the glory of thousands of years.
Only through knowledge can we see its full anatomy.
Judging from the shape of the shard,
this is a mid-Xiang Dynasty shard.
The shard has a soft sound,
which reflects the highly developed Qing Dynasty bronze culture.
To restore the object's missing part,
the restoration team needs to model its shape with clay,
carve patterns,
cast plaster mold,
and pour waxy into the plaster mold,
and pour alloy to get the final product.
This process is a magical transformation with metal,
clay,
water,
and fire.
We are amazed at the exceptional capabilities and creativity of our ancestors.
Back then, our ancestors lived next door to nature.
Their reflections on the universal have been cast in those bronze wares,
which are passed down through generations.
Careful restoration revitalizes the belief and worship
that were once cast into the ancient bronzeware.
The lost bronze lid is the crown that bears grace and dignity.
Jiang Peicheng and his team will continue to crack this ancient and mysterious code.
This restored tool vessel produces a dark metal gloss
that sheds light on the depth of history.
