What are the main ornaments of bronzes?

The development of Chinese bronzes mainly went through three historical periods: Xia, Shang and Zhou, during which the style of bronzes changed from a solemn artistic style to a simple, concise and bright style, and at the same time, the social function of bronzes gradually changed from ritual vessels for sacrificial purposes to practical utensils. The ornamentation of bronze ware has evolved from solemn gluttonous patterns and crests to rhythmic patterns of stealing and rings, and then developed into fresh patterns of cockroaches, feasts, and battle patterns, during which the supernatural magic of animal ornaments gradually weakened until they were lost.

The change of this ornamentation is not only caused by the improvement of manufacturing technology or people's aesthetic level, but also has a certain relationship with the improvement of human productivity and social change. The production of bronze ornamentation is the crystallization of the industriousness, simplicity, intelligence and wisdom of the Chinese working people, and is the basis for reflecting people's good wishes, and is the concrete manifestation of people's struggle with nature, coexistence, and the simple wish of "harmony between man and nature".

The patterns on bronzes are often decorated on the abdomen, neck, lid and feet of the objects. The content of the decoration mainly includes animal patterns (gluttonous patterns, kui patterns, dragon patterns, phoenix patterns, cockroach patterns, elephant patterns, fish patterns, cicada patterns, turtle patterns, snake patterns, rabbit patterns, rhino patterns, deer patterns, tiger patterns, silkworm patterns, toad patterns, etc.), character patterns (feasting, hunting, fighting, mulberry picking, human faces, feather people, racing, etc.), geometric patterns (cloud and thunder patterns, tile patterns, line patterns, scale patterns, ring patterns, heavy ring patterns, checkered patterns, stealing patterns, cloud patterns, milk nail patterns, wavy thunder patterns, rope patterns, string patterns, ring patterns, millet patterns, etc.). The patterns of bronze have many similarities with those of pottery, but they are more abundant than those of pottery.

There are individual forms, fitting and continuous forms. The production techniques are mostly pottery mold recasting or inlay and knife carving, and some also have lacquer painting and coloring.

There is a phoenix, symbolizing auspiciousness, the phoenix on the bronze is carved lifelike, the second carved poultry, generally symbolizes the harvest of grains, has a good meaning for farmers, the third carved some patterns, all kinds of patterns symbolize peace and auspiciousness, to bring people a good meaning.

Animal patterns, plant patterns, auspicious cloud patterns, totem patterns, there are some simple patterns of characters, and there are many patterns on the surface.

Turtles, elephants, fire patterns, portraits, ripples, feathers, these patterns are the most common.