Vase with elephant-headed handles (detail); Yuan (1271-1368) - Ming (1368-1644) dynasty, 14th to 15th century; Bronze, H. 11 in. (28 cm); The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Barbara and William Karatz Gift, 2019 (2019.264).
Webinar
The Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) was a key era for the production of “later Chinese bronzes,” a category that received relatively scant attention in comparison to ancient Chinese bronzes. These bronzes actually played a more significant role in China than is currently understood. Interestingly, Japan is a treasure-trove of Yuan bronzes. Since the thirteenth century, Chinese bronzes were exported to Japan and widely used in flower arrangements, incense, and tea ceremonies. Through textual materials and extant examples of bronzes in various public and private collections, this talk will explore how they were appreciated in Muromachi and Edo Japan.