临淄齐故城镜范与汉代铸镜技术

On Mirror Molds from the Linzi City Site of the Qi State and the Mirror-Casting Technique of the Han Period

在古代铜镜铸造中,镜范的制作和使用是最为关键的环节,也是铸镜技术的核心所在。山东临淄齐故城出土的汉代陶质镜范在材质、结构和制作工艺等方面,都较先秦陶范有了很大的改进,反映了汉代铸镜技术的进步。这些镜范在制作时于泥料中羼入了大量稻壳灰,焙烧火候也高,因此范体密度低、重量轻,内含大量孔隙,适合铸造,同时又结实耐用且不失柔韧性,从而便于工匠对其进行塑形、雕刻乃至修补和改制。镜范结构设计亦较科学、合理,不仅可铸造出好的产品,而且有利于保护镜范,以达到多次反复使用的目的。另外,镜范成形工艺的改进,特别是刻纹技术的普遍采用,既保证了镜范的质量,也使工匠的艺术创造力得以充分发挥。技术上的进步,造就了汉代临淄镜范优异的铸造性能,同时还使其可以多次反复使用,从而大幅度提高了当时的铜镜生产效率。

Ceramic molds were crucial in casting bronze mirrors in ancient China,the making process of which was the key in mirror-casting technique.Ceramic mirror molds unearthed at the Linzi City Site of the Qi state show significant developments in comparison with those of the pre-Qin period.A lot of rice-husk ashes was added during the making of the mirror molds.They were also baked at a comparatively high temperature.The Linzi molds were of low-density texture and with a lot of pores,which were ideal for casting mirrors and could be utilized for multiple times.In addition,the development of mirror-mold techniques,especially the common application of motif-carving technique,contributed greatly to the mold quality and artistic value.The developed technique also greatly improved mirror-casting efficiency.