Inscribed Ancient Chinese Bronzes in the British Museum

Abstract

Inscribed bronzes have long been regarded as one of the most important sources for studies of the Chinese early dynasties, as they bear the contemporary written evidence of the time.  This seminar will give a brief introduction of the collection of inscribed bronzes in the British Museum and present some discoveries from a recent confirmatory check of these objects. As the curator responsible for the ‘Early writing’ display in the permanent gallery of China in the Museum, the speaker will also share and review the approach of display of inscribed bronzes in the gallery.  

Speaker

Dr Yi Chen is curator for early China at the British Museum. She obtained her PhD in Chinese archaeology from the University of Oxford in 2014. Dr Chen was the Christensen Fellow of Chinese Painting 2013-2015 at the Ashmolean Museum before she joined the British Museum in September 2015. She is responsible for displays of early China in the Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery of China and South Asia, from the Neolithic period to the Tang dynasty.

This talk will be presented in English, followed by a wine reception at the Staff and Research Student Common Room (609). No booking is required and all are welcome.

Any enquiries about the event or work of the International Centre for Chinese Heritage and Archaeology (ICCHA) may be directed to the Centre Administrator, Rui Pang.

The International Centre for Chinese Heritage and Archaeology, a joint association between the School for Archaeology and Museology of Peking University and the UCL Institute of Archaeology, is tasked with bringing China's cultural past to western scholars. Through its China Nights events and Guest Lecture Series, the Centre endeavours to promote all aspects of Chinese history and prehistory and strengthen academic links between China and Europe. In addition, the ICCHA regularly hosts world-class conferences, bridge the gap in archaeological thought and theory.