Present occasion and history
In the manner of
| An interest in older forms permeated literati aesthetic concerns. One of the key sources were the bronzes of the earlier Shang and Zhou Periods. These were originally produced as ritual vessels and used by the ruling classes of the various fiefdoms into which China was divided. Over time they became associated with a romantic view of Han origins and a mythically past moment of cultural certainty. Aside from the collecting of original bronzes, their forms were reproduced in later times, including large-scale state-sponsored projects of reproduction under the Northern Sung. Subsequently, literati saw these forms brought over into ceramics and all manner of decorative objects. A taste for this sort of historicism was especially strong during the Qing Period. |   |   | |
| Doorway in form of ritual ceramic Suzhou, 2004 | Inkcake Early 19th century Longest dimension 7 cm Private collection |