On my final day in California, I visited with several friends. Michael is a volunteer at the Museum of Asian Art and suggested I meet him there. The current exhibit, he said, is a knockout. The show, Phoenix Kingdoms, displays recent bronze age findings from southern China. A majority of the pieces were excavated within the past twenty-five years, some as recently as 2020.
Most are thousands of years old, though based on their excellent condition could have been crafted within the last century. The size, workmanship and exquisite details were startling. Several explanatory videos gave the history of the find, talked about the use and symbolism of the pieces, and even demonstrated the sounds of the bells.
What most amazed me were perfectly preserved fabrics from nearly 2,500 years ago.