An artifact showcased at an exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago that features ancient bronze objects from China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Many of these artifacts can be traced back to the collections amassed by China's emperors and eminent scholars.

One of the artifacts on exhibition is the tripod cauldron Shi Yin Li from the Palace Museum in Beijing. It is known as the largest vessel of its kind that still exists today.

Wang Tao, curator of the exhibition and executive director of initiatives in Asia at the Art Institute of Chicago, hopes that the exhibition can illuminate China's past and present and provide viewers with a new understanding of ancient bronze relics and their significance.