Cast for Eternity ─ Ancient Ritual Bronzes from the Shanghai Museum

Showcasing more than thirty ancient bronzes from the exceptional holdings of the Shanghai Museum, this generously illustrated book offers a compelling overview of the beauty of Chinese bronzes and the fascinating traditions surrounding them. These important objects, many of which have never before appeared in an English-language publication, date from the 18th to the 1st century B.C.E. and span numerous dynasties. Highlights of the exhibition include an early thin-wall cast three-legged food vessel (ding) from the Erlitou period, a set of nine bells (bianzhong) from the early Spring and Autumn period, and a beast-shaped wine vessel (he) from the early Warring States period.

An accessible essay serves as an introduction to these masterpieces, and sumptuous, newly commissioned photography makes this publication a standout addition to the literature on Asian bronze sculpture.

Liu Yang is the curator of Chinese art and head of the Asian Art Department at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Zhou Ya is the senior curator of ancient bronzes at the Shanghai Museum.