MEDIA & STORIES
BBC at Xinjiuding
Interviews and workshop filming for The Story of China.
We welcomed a BBC film crew to Xinjiuding to talk about Chinese bronze casting and see the work first-hand. Our experience of recreating historic bronzes gave us plenty to discuss: the forms of the vessels, the details of their decoration and the methods used to cast them. Moving between the gallery and the workshop, we could share that knowledge through objects and demonstrations, opening up a craft we know well to a wider audience.
In the Gallery
With the objects in front of us, there was time to look closely at shapes, decoration and small details. We shared what working with historic bronzes has taught us, explaining the relationship between a vessel’s appearance and the way it is made.
Filming in the Workshop
The filming continued in the workshop, where the team gathered around a demonstration to watch and ask questions. Materials, tools and the work itself became part of the explanation. These photographs also show the camera and sound crew finding their place around the activity.
The BBC Interview
The BBC Teach clip, How the Early Chinese Made Bronzes, includes an interview with Zheng Dongping, introduced on screen as a master bronze caster. The programme follows the casting of a bronze vessel, giving viewers a closer look at the skill and judgement involved.
BBC Teach: The Story of China. Select a screenshot to view it in full.
A Record of the Visit
These group photographs are part of our record of the visit, alongside the gallery conversations and workshop filming.