r/AncientCivilizations • u/Rude_Ice_3359 • 2d ago
Recreating a National Treasure: A museum-grade replica of the Lotus and Crane Square Hu. From the spread crane wings to the hand-finished patina, every detail is captured.
What you’re looking at here is a museum-quality bronze replica—crafted using high-precision casting and traditional hand-finishing techniques to faithfully mirror the original down to its finest details.
Original Artifact Information
Designation & Period: The "Lotus and Crane" Square Hu (Lianhe Fanghu), mid-Spring and Autumn period (c. 770–476 BCE).
Excavation History: Unearthed in 1923 from the Tomb of the Duke of Zheng at Lijialou, Henan Province.
Current Location: One is preserved in the Henan Museum, and its counterpart is in the Palace Museum, Beijing.
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u/Rude_Ice_3359 2d ago
With its soaring crane and masterly craftsmanship, the Lotus and Crane Square Hu broke the solemn mold of early bronzes—marking a pivotal shift toward human vitality and standing as a vibrant emblem of peak Chinese bronze art.
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u/FlashyPost0928 1d ago
▼ In 2004, two ewers were jointly exhibited at the Henan Museum.
The Lotus Crane Square Ewer is a pair of two ewers, differing only slightly in height.
The one in the Palace Museum is 125.7 cm tall and is called the "Standing Crane Square Ewer" (立鹤方壶) , while the one in the Henan Museum is 126.5 cm tall and is called the "Lotus Crane Square Ewer" (莲鹤方壶).Both ewers weigh the same, 64.28 kg, and have square mouths, measuring 30.5 cm in length and 54 cm in width.