This article proposes an advanced classification algorithm for bronze drinking utensils, taking into account the complexity of their cultural characteristics and the challenges of dynasty classification. The SSA-CBAM-GNNs algorithm integrates the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA), Spatial and Spectral Attention (CBAM) modules, and Graph Neural Networks (GNNs). The CBAM module is essential for optimizing feature extraction weights in graph neural networks, while SSA enhances the weighted network and expedites the convergence process. Experimental results, validated through various performance evaluation indicators, illustrate the outstanding performance of the improved SSA-CBAM-GNNs algorithm in accurately identifying and classifying cultural features of bronze drinking utensils. Comparative experiments confirm the algorithm’s superiority over other methods. Overall, this study proposes a highly efficient identification and classification algorithm, and its effectiveness and excellence in extracting and identifying cultural features of bronze drinking utensils are experimentally demonstrated.