What did Gold and Silver Inlay look like?

Bronze vessel surface with inlaid gold/silver wire or sheet. After polishing, the inlay is flush with the surface but sharply contrasting in color.

How did Gold and Silver Inlay work?

Bronze vessel cast → grooves cut along pattern lines → gold/silver wire hammered into grooves → the ductility and differential thermal expansion of gold/silver ensure tight fit → ground and polished.

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错金银工艺

Gold and Silver Inlay

Inlaying gold and silver wire or sheet into bronze surfaces to create exquisite decorative patterns, exploiting differential thermal expansion of metals for a tight fit.

错金银工

Scientific Principle

Metal plastic deformation: the high ductility of gold and silver allows them to be hammered into grooves. Thermal expansion coefficients: gold/silver > copper, ensuring an even tighter fit upon cooling.

错金银工艺

Gold and Silver Inlay

Scientific Principle

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