Media

The University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will present Cast and Chased: The Influence of Ancient Chinese Bronze on Modern Silver from December 18, 2021 to March 20, 2022.

Cast and Chased: The Influence of Ancient Chinese Bronze on Modern Silver forms part of the University Museum’s UMAG_STArts series on science and technology in the arts, which presents the materials and techniques used to create artwork throughout Chinese cultural history. By juxtaposing early Chinese bronzes from the UMAG collection with silverware made by Wai Kee Jewellers Ltd. (est. 1885) for twentieth-century Hong Kong connoisseur Kwan Sai Tak, this exhibition considers the enduring characteristics of fine Chinese metalwork.

Chinese bronzes of the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE) and the Zhou dynasty (c. 1046– 256 BCE) are among the most celebrated domestic and ritual objects in Asian material culture. The quality of the metal alloys and the technical expertise required for casting and chasing are testament to the highly developed manufacturing techniques. Made from tin-copper alloys with varying concentrations of lead, these objects were created in smelting sites located along the Yellow River in Central China. Many of the utilitarian vessels were decorated with cloud designs, taotie, animal masks and other auspicious symbols.

Celebrated today for their enduring beauty, early Chinese bronzes also include practical objects, such as cooking and storage vessels, which offer insight into both the cultures from which they developed, as well as more contemporary objects. Their ornate splendour and utilitarian features have noticeably influenced the fanciful modern sterling silver pieces, while the craftsmanship emphasises the long-practiced technique of casting and chasing. This level of refined detail exemplifies the quality of Chinese metalworking throughout the millennia.

For more images and captions of the exhibits, please click here.

Details of the Exhibition
Period: December 18, 2021 (Saturday) to March 20, 2022 (Sunday)
Opening Hours:
9:30 am–6:00 pm (Tuesday to Saturday)
1:00 pm–6:00 pm (Sunday)
Closed on Mondays, University and Public Holidays
Venue: Study Gallery, G/F Fung Ping Shan Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk
Admission: Free
Website:  http://www.umag.hku.hk/en/

In the Interest of Public Health, UMAG will Adopt the Following Measures
- Starting from December 9, except for exempted persons*, all museum visitors are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code before entering UMAG via the G/F Fung Ping Shan Building entrance. *Exemption details will be updated on UMAG website.
- A temperature check will be conducted upon entry.
- Visitors are required to properly wear their face mask at all times. They are advised to wash their hands and use the hand sanitizer and sink available at the entrance.
- Crowd control measures will be in place; UMAG reserves the right to limit the number of visitors.
- Children under 12 can only enter the museum when accompanied by an adult.
- Disability access is available upon request. Please contact the museum at (852) 2241 5500 three working days prior to your visit.
UMAG will continue to assess the situation and adjust the relevant preventive measures as necessary.

Connect with UMAG on Social Media:
Facebook:  http://bit.ly/umag_facebook
Instagram: @umag_hku, #UMAG, #UMAG_STArts, #Bronzes, #Silverware
Weibo: @香港大學美術博物館UMAG
YouTube:  http://bit.ly/umag_youtube
LinkedIn:  http://bit.ly/umag_linkedin

About University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong (UMAG)
UMAG was founded in 1953 as the Fung Ping Shan Museum. It was originally established as the Fung Ping Shan Library in 1932 in honour of its benefactor. For more information on UMAG, please click here.

About UMAG_STArts
As a university museum, public education is at the heart of UMAG’s core programming. Launched in 2020, UMAG_STArts is a new initiative that explores the symbiotic relationship between science, technology, and the arts through the interdisciplinary studies of art history​, conservation, and novel forms of technology. Learn with UMAG is one of the initiative's first projects, featuring programmes of educational activities, digital learning resources, and exhibitions at our newly refurbished study gallery.

Learn with UMAG is one of the initiative's first projects, featuring programmes of educational activities, digital learning resources, and exhibitions at our newly refurbished study gallery. Starting with the theme of painting, four programmes will be conducted. Each programme will feature an art-related theme—a technique, medium, material, or genre—aiming to offer a more interactive and dynamic museum learning experience that is dissimilar from the traditional mode of art exhibition.

Media Enquiries
UMAG Curator (Education) Elena Cheung, Tel: (852) 2241 5512, Email: elenac@hku.hk
UMAG Curatorial Assistant Jasmin Lin, Tel: (852) 2241 5509, Email: jasminl@hku.hk