Restoration and reproduction of bronzes

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Bronze restoration and reproduction techniques

Applicant: the Palace Museum

Project No.: 1177

Project No.: VIII - 197

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Zhongzhi unit

Type: new item

Applicant: the Palace Museum

Protected by: the Palace Museum

Brief introduction to the restoration and reproduction of bronze ware:

Applicant: the Palace Museum

The technology of restoration and reproduction of Chinese traditional bronzes has appeared two thousand years ago, and continues. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, bronze wares were imitated on a large scale. At this time, the traditional Chinese bronze restoration industry established four schools: Beijing school, Xi'an school, Suzhou school and Weifang school. Among them, Beijing school had a great influence, and a number of famous teachers and apprentices appeared successively.

In 1952, the bronze restoration experts headed by Zhao zhenmao from Beijing entered the Palace Museum and began to use traditional techniques to restore and copy bronze relics. These experts include Zhao Tongren, Li Huisheng, Meng Haiquan, jingdequan, Gu Dewang and Zhang JURU, who have been engaged in the restoration and reproduction of bronzes for a long time. Over the past few decades, these experts have restored and copied thousands of bronze artifacts, making important contributions to the protection and restoration of cultural relics in China.

Traditional bronze restoration technology mainly includes shaping, splicing, patching, bonding (welding), reinforcement, aging and other processes, and sometimes involves rust removal, wax (surface sealing) and other work. Traditional bronze reproduction technology includes mold making, mold casting, pattern carving, polishing and other processes, each process has a high technical difficulty.

At present, professionals engaged in the restoration of traditional bronzes are aging, and further inheritance is facing difficulties. Under the background of the rapid development of modern science and technology, it is imperative to scientifically summarize the traditional crafts, including the traditional restoration and reproduction technology of bronzes.