Highlights
Friendship, Network, and Self-Fashioning in Cao Zaikui’s Catalogue of Ancient Bronzes
Antiquarianism (jinshixue) established itself as a respected academic discipline in the Song dynasty (960–1279) and gained significant prominence in the 19th century. Following the reign of the emperor Jiaqing (1796–1820), more scholars collected and published bronze and stone inscriptions to verify and supplement classical and historical records found in transmitted texts.
Ya Chou lei: A Unique Shang Wine Vessel at Mia from the Former Qing Imperial Collection
Among the outstanding ancient Chinese ritual bronzes collected at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)—the majority of them were bequests of Alfred F. Pillsbury—one vessel known as Ya Chou lei particularly stands out. Not only was it formerly in the Qing imperial collection and recorded in Xiqing gujian (12.6), a catalogue documenting the Qianlong Emperor’s collection, but its origin and patron, intricate design, and casting technique are also fascinating.