铜缸虽不是常可以见到的，故宫铜大缸，但在古代却是最常用的一种铜雕物品，最初置于宫中，主要用于防火，随着其本身所具备的特性，又成为了一种不可多得的宫中陈列品，具有很高的收藏价值。游览故宫，少不了看到大大小小的宫殿周围，陈列着无数引人注目的大缸，故宫铸铜大缸定做，这些大缸有铜缸和铁缸两种，按照材质可以分为“镀金海”铜缸、青铜缸和铁缸三类。史料记载，清代中期，宫内共有大小缸308口，而今却仅存有108口了。皇宫内各处陈设缸的数量以及缸的大小是随着环境而定的。如太和殿、保和殿及乾清门周围陈设的均是“镀金海”铜缸，而内廷东、西六宫庭院及长街上所陈设的就是比较小的青铜缸或者铁缸了。

Copper cylinder is not often seen, but in ancient times it is the most commonly used bronze carving articles, initially placed in the palace, mainly used for fire prevention, with its own characteristics, and has become a rare display in the palace, with high collection value. Visiting the Palace Museum, we can not help but see the large and small palaces around which there are numerous large and conspicuous cylinders. The Palace Museum cast copper cylinders are customized. These cylinders have two kinds: copper cylinders and iron cylinders. According to the material, they can be divided into three categories: the "gold-plated sea" copper cylinders, bronze cylinders and iron cylinders. According to historical records, there were 308 large and small cylinders in the palace in the mid-Qing Dynasty, but now there are only 108. The number and size of cylinders displayed everywhere in the palace depend on the environment. For example, the Taihe Hall, the Baohe Hall and the Qianqing Gate are all decorated with "gilded sea" copper cylinders, while the smaller bronze cylinders or iron cylinders are displayed on the courtyards of the Sixth Palace and the Long Street of the Inner Court.