Bronze Ding Censer with Lotus and Zoomorphic Decorations
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- Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture. - Zoomorphic - Objects made having the shape, form, or likeness of an animal. For example, the Hindu god Ganesha has the head of an elephant.
The term is also applied to furniture made from animal parts. Examples are chandeliers, hallstands and chairs made from deer antlers and umbrella stands, ice buckets and other objects made from an elephant's foot. - Chinese Ding Porcelain - Ding ware is a type of Chinese porcelain that was produced in the northern city of Ding in the Hebei province during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It is considered to be one of the "Five Great Kilns" of Chinese ceramics, along with Jian, Jun, Guan, and Ru wares.
Ding ware is known for its fine white porcelain body, which was made from kaolin clay, and its elegant shapes and designs. The glaze on Ding ware is usually transparent and has a bluish-white or grayish-white color. It was often decorated with underglaze blue or iron-brown designs.
Ding ware was highly prized during the Song Dynasty, and it was exported throughout Asia and as far as the Middle East and the Mediterranean. It was also an inspiration for other porcelain-making centers in China and Japan. The production of Ding ware declined after the Song Dynasty, and it is now considered to be a rare and valuable collectible.
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