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What types of inlay decorated some late Zhou bronze objects?
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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 late Zhou dynasty, the wealth and sophistication of the culture were reflected in the use of various materials to decorate bronze objects. Craftsmen frequently executed works featuring inlays of:
- Gold1
- Silver12
- Jade1
- Glass1
- Semiprecious stones1
These inlay techniques were part of a broader trend of exquisite craftsmanship that emerged alongside increased commercial interaction and artistic fascination with northern tribal peoples.1