Date: Late Spring and Autumn (early 6th century - 476 BC)
Weight: 37.9 kg
Material: Bronze

• Object Type：
  • BRONZE
• Location：
  • Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery
• Tag：
  • drum stand openwork dragon spring and autumn bronze

The drum stand is a hemispheroid with ring-foot. The raised hollow cylinder in the centre is used to insert the drum column. Twelve intertwined circular engraved coiled dragons scramble on the hemispherical drum surface. The dragon head holding a ring in its mouth is carved in the round and the dragon bodies are of high relief. The eyes of the 12 dragons are round but hollow, which were likely inlaid but are missing now. As both ends of the dragon horns are empty slots, it is likely that similar decorations were also inlaid. 
This work is a combination of the carving in the round, high relief, low relief and intaglio techniques and an integration of different craft process including separate casting, forging, copper brazing, pewter work, inlaying and so on. The dynamic shapes and symmetrical layout make up a three-dimensional sculpture where a group of dragons intertwine with each other with their heads rising and tails wagging. It is a model of the combination of casting and sculptural art.