Description:

China, Han Dynasty, 206 BCE to 220 CE. This is a collection of four cast bronze bells in two styles. One style is an open-bodied, long flattened cylinder with pointed edges; the other is a similar shape but more squat and without the open-body. The latter has small geometric designs around its exterior which may be Bronzeware script but which is now too worn to read. Bells like this were most likely smaller components of a larger instrument: the bianzhong, a set of bronze bells hung on a wooden frame and played melodically. A complete set of 65 was found intact in a tomb from ca. 430 BCE. Bells of this size may also have been hung from a horses' tack or potentially even from fine clothing. Size of largest: 2.4" L x 1.15" W (6.1 cm x 2.9 cm)

Provenance: Ex-private J. Connell collection, Massachusetts.

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#101346

  • Condition: All have patina and some encrustation; one of the bells is missing a clapper (the other two without them were never made with clappers).

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March 31, 2016 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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