A RARE LARGE DOCUMENTARY CAST-IRON BELL

Details

A RARE LARGE DOCUMENTARY CAST-IRON BELL
BEARING AN INSCRIPTION DATED DAOGUANG 25TH YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1845, AND OF THE PERIOD

Of bulbous form, cast in thread relief on one side with butterflies flitting around a large leaf and ribbon rippling across a lotus pond, flanked by a wan emblem and a double lozenge, the reverse cast with the lengthy inscription--21¼in. (54cm.) high

Lot Essay

The inscription may be translated, 'Donated by the Buddhist disciples Li Rongfang and Yuanxu and their sons Li Hong, Huai and Zhan, to the Precious Hall of Guanyin in the Ancient Temple of the God of Wealth, Zhihang Street, on an auspicious morning in the second month of spring in the twenty-fifth year of Daoguang, yi si year, made by the Wanwen Laolu'