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How large and heavy could Shang dynasty bronze ritual vessels become?
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Chinese bronzes
Bronze gu from Anyang, Henan province, China, Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 bce); in the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery and Mary Atkins Museum of Fine Arts, Kansas City, Mo.
During the Shang dynasty, the production of bronze ritual vessels reached a high level of technical sophistication. These vessels varied significantly in scale, ranging from approximately 15 cm (6 inches) to more than 130 cm (50 inches) in height. In terms of mass, these impressive works could weigh as much as 875 kg (1,925 pounds).1