CHINA, QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG SIX-CHARACTER SEAL MARK IN A LINE AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

Bronze bells have a long and distinguished history in China, dating to the earliest periods of Chinese bronze casting and becoming an important component of ritual and ceremonial music by the Zhou dynasty. This tradition continued throughout successive dynasties and remained significant at the Qing court, reaching a particularly sophisticated expression during the Qianlong reign.

The present bell is cast around the upper section with a decorative band enclosing, on each side, two dragons pursuing a flaming pearl amidst scrolling clouds, a composition rooted in Ming decorative traditions and revived during the Qing dynasty. The top is further pierced with two openwork bats, the auspicious fu motif conveying wishes for good fortune.

Particularly noteworthy is the six-character Qianlong seal mark cast on the present bell. Its execution is highly comparable to the mark on a Qianlong mark-and-period bronze stem bowl from the collection of Mr and Mrs Gerard Hawthorn, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 December 2015, lot 105. The close correspondence provides a useful reference for the form and execution of Qianlong reign marks cast on contemporary bronze vessels.