A SMALL BRONZE BELL, YONGZHONG

EARLY/MIDDLE WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, 11TH-9TH CENTURY BC

Details

A SMALL BRONZE BELL, YONGZHONG
EARLY/MIDDLE WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, 11TH-9TH CENTURY BC
Of lenticular section, the bell is decorated on each side with a plain panel bisected by a line and flanked by three rows of S-shaped scrolls, all cast in thread relief and alternating with three rows of projecting bosses, above a further scroll motif in thread relief, and within double line, thread-relief borders. The hollow, slightly tapering, cylindrical shank is encircled by a rounded collar and has a suspension loop on one side. The bronze has a dark brownish-grey and milky olive-green patina.
9 7/8 in. (25 cm.) high

Provenance

Frank Caro, New York, April 1963.
Arthur M. Sackler Collections, New York.
Else Sackler, and thence by descent within the family.

Literature

J. Rawson, Western Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, vol. IIB, Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, 1990, pp. 744-45, no. 127.

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Lot Essay

Bells of this type were made in graduated sizes to form a set or 'chime'. Each bell when struck on two different locations at the mouth, emitted two different tones. Compare the larger (34 cm.) bell of this type, dated to the late Spring and Autumn period, 5th century BC, from the Falk Collection, sold at Christie's New York, 16 October 2001, lot 168.

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