Considers the terminology employed to describe corrosion processes, as well as the casting composition, metallographic structure, finishing, appearance, and color of Chinese bronzes. Particular attention is drawn to the presence of cuprite as a marker layer on Chinese bronzes and the theme of ion migration as an important unifying concept within bronze corrosion. Two types of corrosion processes are discussed as a result of this concept, and case histories of bronzes from China are examined. Important information is preserved within patinas and corrosion products of bronze objects. The point is made that it is futile to attempt to bring these bronzes back to their original condition, for their original condition has been altered totally by corrosion and, in some cases, subsequent treatment. An understanding of the bronze needs to be dealt with in detail, before conservation treatment, and in many cases, the best understanding arises from metallographic study of cross sections of the bronze materials. Cleaning or chemical treatment in an indiscriminate fashion of all bronze finds from a site should be avoided until the finds have been carefully studied. Study of corrosion phenomena and the environmental aspects of object burial presents both intellectually interesting deductive problems and additionally enables us to appreciate the skill of ancient craftspeople and the workmanship involved in producing bronze artifacts

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