In the Spring and Autumn period (770 BC-476 BC), the Kingdom of Zhou declined and various states prospered. The influence of this change on bronze was the decrease in the number of royal ritual objects. Lotus and Crane Fang Hu was a masterwork of that time. Its themes are the animals and pla’ts living, in water and on land. It is huge, com-plicated and elegant. The pattern was novel. The cover is decorated with two layers of openwork lotus petals with a fluttering and singing crane standing in the middle.The crane looks vivid, light and delicate. The body of the bronze is covered with complicated designs of snakes, birds, tigers, fly-ing dragons and coiled dragons.

Gallery of Bronzes in the Forbidden City

Nine Elephant Zun
Lotus and Crane Fang Hu (Rectangular Jar)
Bronze Hu (Jar) with the Scenes of Banquet, Hunting and Battling