TWO SILVER-INLAID BRONZE RINGS

Warring States Period - Western Han Dynasty

Footnotes

戰國至西漢 銅錯銀漆器圈口 一組兩件

These rings, though primarily composed of swirls combined with stylized geometric motifs, achieve rich visual impact through varied arrangements. The swirls follow a fluid spiral pattern as their fundamental form, alternating in density or size, interweaving and overlapping with geometric lines that maintain order while incorporating subtle variation. This design maintains stylistic unity while creating a highly rhythmic decorative effect within the limited rim area. This was achieved through the contrast of density, directional adjustments, and the varying depths of the inlaid silver filigree.

The ring, serving as the mounting for lacquerware, not only effectively addresses the material's vulnerability but also significantly elevates the artifact's artistic value through the bronze's substantial weight and the intricate presentation of the inlaid silver technique. The geometric and ornamental characteristics of the patterns, along with the composite nature of the craft techniques, reflect the aesthetic transformation of the Warring States, Qin and Han dynasties, a shift from the Shang and Zhou dynsaties' 'divine-centered' philosophy to a 'human-centered' aesthetic orientation, and from the use of single materials to innovative practices of diverse materials. These rims not only stand as a material testament to ancient metalworking achievements but also serves as a tangible carrier of the social structural shifts and intellectual-cultural evolution of its era.

此組銅錯銀漆器圈口的紋飾雖均以渦紋與變形幾何紋相結合為主要構成元素，但通過差異化的排列組合方式呈現出豐富的視覺層次。其中渦紋以流暢的螺旋形態為基本範式，或疏密相間，或大小漸變，與規整中蘊含變化的幾何線條相互穿插、疊壓。這種設計既維繫了整體風格的統一性，又憑藉紋樣間的疏密對比、方向調整以及銀絲嵌錯的深淺層次關係，在有限的圈口範圍內營造出極具韻律感的裝飾效果。

銅質圈口作為漆器的金屬包邊，不僅有效解決了漆器易損的問題，更通過青銅材質的厚重質感與錯銀工藝的精緻呈現，顯著提升了整件器物的藝術等級。紋飾的幾何化與裝飾化特徵，以及工藝技法的複合性特徵，均折射出戰國秦漢「大變革時代」的審美轉型，即從商周時期「重神」的造物理念轉向「重人」的審美取向，從單一材質的應用轉向多元材質融合的創新實踐。不僅是古代金屬工藝技術成就的物質見證，更是當時社會結構變遷與思想文化演進的實物載體。