Chongyang Bronze Drum

The Chongyang Bronze Drum, discovered in 1977 in Chongyang County, Hubei Province, stands 75.5 cm tall and consists of three parts: the drum body, the drum base, and the drum crown. The round drum surface, imitating leather, is unadorned, while the drum body, base, and crown are all cast with decorative patterns popular in the late Shang Dynasty, including cloud-and-thunder patterns and nipple pattern. This bronze drum is thick and archaic in texture, monumental and solemn in form, with bold and fluid patterns, representing the characteristics and craftsmanship of Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC) bronze artifacts in China. It is the earliest bronze drum currently known in China and the only preserved bronze drum from the Shang Dynasty to the early Western Zhou Dynasty (1046–771 BC).