A Scientific Study of Eastern Zhou Bronze Weapons with Tin-Rich Surface Decoration

Abstract:

In this paper we examined three bronze weapons with tin-rich surface decoration from the Eastern Zhou period: a sword (1966,0222.1) with a trellis pattern, a spearhead (1947,0712.426) with a hexagonal star pattern in the British Museum collections, and a sword (GT698) with a trellis pattern from a private collection. These weapons may have come from south eastern China, a region renowned for its weaponry production in the Eastern Zhou period, as both their styles and decorations are comparable to the sword of the Yue King Goujian and the spearhead of Wu King Fuchai, two of the most typical objects of this type. The manufacturing and surface tin-rich decoration techniques were investigated using microscopy, X-ray CT imaging, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that all the objects were made of high tin bronzes. The swords were made by casting a grip around the pre-cast blade and the pommel. The spearhead was an integral casting. The trellis pattern on the swords was probably produced by heating up a tin-rich paste applied to the surface and the thin hexagonal star decoration pattern on the spearhead was probably produced by brush painting with a mercury-tin amalgam followed by heating.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 983)
• Pages: 47-55
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.983.47
• Online since: March 2020
• Authors: Quan Yu Wang*, Yi Chen, Daniel O'Flynn O'Flynn
• Keywords: Bronze Weapon, Eastern Zhou, Tin-Rich Decoration, Trellis Pattern

References

[1] D. Tan, A preliminary study of partial tin-rich decoration on ancient Chinese bronzes, Studies of Bronze Culture, Huangshan Publishing House, Anhui, 9 (2017) 135-142.

[2] S. Sun, X. Li, Z. Yao and R. Han, A study on surface tinning techniques of Chinese bronzes, Science of Conservation and Archaeology 20 (2008) supplement 41-52.

[3] Hubei Provincial Institute of Archaeology, Jiangling Wangshan Shazhong Chu Cemetery, Wenwu Publishing House, Beijing, (1996).

[4] C. Huang, Yangtze Daily 31/12/(1983).

[5] D. Tan, L. Wu, W. Shu, K. Xu, Z. Wu, L. Su and W. Liu, A research on the treatment technique of the Eastern Han silvery-white, bronze mirrors surface, in: C. Ma (Ed.), A Collection of The Shanghai Museum Thesis on Science of Conservation, Shanghai Scientific Technological Literature Publishing House, Shanghai, 1996, pp.96-108.

[6] T. He, Analysis of some bronzes from Sichuan, Sichuan Wenwu 4 (1987) 46-48.

[7] A. Kossolapov and J. Twilley, A decorated Chinese dagger: evidence for ancient amalgam tinning, Studies in Conservation 39 (4) (1994) 257-264.

DOI: 10.1179/sic.1994.39.4.257

[8] D. Tan, H. Lian, Z. Wu, L. Su, J. Li and G. Zhang, A study into the making technique of the Lozenge pattern on bronze weapons in the Eastern Zhou period, Kaogu Xuebao 1 (2000) 111-146.

[9] Z. Ding, L. Wu, Y. Liu, C. Qu and H. Mu, Studies on the jointing techniques of pommels decorated with concentric circles excavated from Xintai, Shandong province, Sciences of Conservation and Archaeology 26 (3) (2014) 29-37.

[10] M. Xiao, Studies of bronze weapons from the Wu State and the Yue State, Kaogu yu Wenwu 6 (1996) 15-27.

[11] Q. Wang, forthcoming, Tin-enrichment surface decoration of Chinese bronzes: a case study of the British Museum collection.

DOI: 10.1111/arcm.12614/v2/response1

[12] N. Meek, Tin-rich surface on bronzes-some archaeological and experimental considerations Archaeometry 28(2) (1986) 133-162.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4754.1986.tb00383.x