Wrought Metal-Working Prior to Middle Shang (?)—A Problem in Archaeological and Art-Historical Research Approaches

Abstract

AbstractThe existence of certain types of Lung-shan pottery vessels and early Shang bronzes based upon supposed wrought metal prototypes continues to lead some scholars to the conclusion that these cultures had knowledge of sheet metal, smithy techniques. An analysis of such features as the tubular spout, projecting ledges, imitation “rivets,” and imitation folded rims leads to the conclusion that their presence is accounted for either by the versatility of the Neolithic potters, by the requirements of metal casting techniques, or by decorative considerations; it need not, and frequently cannot, be explained in terms of sheet metal prototypes. The article also considers the nature and significance of various cold metal working techniques, such as annealing. In the view of the wrought-metal advocates, these techniques would have had to have been discarded and forgotten by the early Chinese metal workers in favor of direct casting in piece-mold assemblies. This is highly unlikely.