veins Chnerst Prose Minsont.—By Until recent' years' notable. exam ples of the early bronze age of China were very rare and dificult to ob-{ain, Outside the Imperial. cotleetion and' those of the" high" offelals authentic specimens were almost un= obtainable except to those with tong nurses able and willing to pay the Tigh prices asked, Lately, however, the rifing. of tombs of the carlier Dynasties has brought to light many fine piece and the museums of the World a9 well as private collections are being enriched with the spoils. A really. representative collection—of bronze vessels and implements date dug back 9s far as the Shang period, fromthe 16th to the 12th. century B.C, is now well within the. com-ass! of the. discriminating collector of moderate means.
Among. the most interesting and varied of such relies are the polished metal, mirrors of which very. large Guantities. are continually being unearthed, so much so that unless elite standing artistic merit. is. disclosed Giscriminating collectors will pass by as unworthy of their attention authentic specimens of the Han period spite of a respectable antiquity of tivo thousand years.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.