Maintaining Uniform Thickness
After the mold sections assembled, clay would be inserted into the outer molds to model the core, then the core is taken out and be thinned to create the thickness of the vessel. When pours liquefying metal into the gap between the mold sections and inner core, spacers are required to maintain the gap of assembled mold sections. There are two ways to achieve this:
(1) A support is placed between the mold sections and the core: a core extension is used as the support (this may form an openwork on the bronze, such as the cross-shaped openwork on the ku vessel); or a metal plate (serving as a spacer) is added to the gap.
(2) The upper and lower portions of core are extended, referred to as “core holders,” to serve as mortises and tenons, thereby supporting the core.
(1) A support is placed between the mold sections and the core: a core extension is used as the support (this may form an openwork on the bronze, such as the cross-shaped openwork on the ku vessel); or a metal plate (serving as a spacer) is added to the gap.
(2) The upper and lower portions of core are extended, referred to as “core holders,” to serve as mortises and tenons, thereby supporting the core.
- Item No.
- R016812, R017017
- Period
- 殷商
- Dimensions
- 長6.207公分，寬5.169公分，厚2.596公分；長7.206公分，寬5.933公分，厚3.01公分
- Excavated/Findspot
- 河南安陽殷墟小屯
- Notes
- 1. Core Holder Mold, R016812, Hsiao-t’un
2. Core Holder Mold, R017017, Hsiao-t’un
