Ritual bell

anonymous, after -0482

This bell once formed part of a large set attached to a wooden frame by their dragon handles. Two separate tones could be produced by striking the bell in two different places – in the middle and at an angle on the side. The knobs are decorated with a beast restraining a bird. The meaning of this motif is not clear.

  • Artwork typeritual object, jingle, percussion instrument, musical instrument, bell (idiophone)
  • Object numberAK-MAK-9
  • Dimensionsheight 58.5 cm x width 42 cm x diameter 34.5 cm x weight 44 kg

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Ritual bell

  • Object type

  • Object number

    AK-MAK-9

  • Description

    Bronzen bel versierd met banden en knoppen in reliëf, met bovenop een montuur in de vorm van twee draken.

Creation

  • Creation

    bronze caster: anonymous, China

  • Dating

    after -0482

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  • School / Style

Material and technique

  • Dimensions

    height 58.5 cm x width 42 cm x diameter 34.5 cm x weight 44 kg

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    On loan from the Royal Asian Art Society in The Netherlands (purchase Edgar Worch, with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt, Berlin, 1930)

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; from the dealer Edgar Worch, Berlin, fl. 65,000, to the Vereniging van Vrienden der Aziatische Kunst, with support from the Vereniging Rembrandt, 1930;{Note RMA} from whom on loan to the museum, 1972

Documentation

    • W. Percival Yetts, The Cull Chinese bronzes, 1939.
    • K. Chang and X. Pingfang, The Formation of Chinese Civilization : An Archaeological Perspective, new Haven 2005, p. 241-245.
    • Wai-kam Ho, 'Shang and Chou bronzes', The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Sept. 1964, p. 174-187, fig. 12.
    • Jan van Campen, 'Ontwikkelingen van een museum voor Aziatische kunst', Simulacrum : Tijdschrift voor kunst en cultuur 18 (2010) nr. 2/3, p. 36, afb. 2.

Persistent URL

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  • Ritual bell
  • Ritual bell