A LATE MING BRONZE BELL

DATED TO THE BINGYING YEAR OF THE ERA OF TIANQI, CORRESPONDING TO 1626 AND OF THE PERIOD

Details

A LATE MING BRONZE BELL
Dated to the Bingying Year of the Era of Tianqi, Corresponding to 1626 and of the Period
Cast with two central bands of adjoining framed rectangular panels alternately inscribed in regular script, with minor decorative bands of lappets and bosses above and key pattern below, the ornate handle formed by two addorsed three-clawed dragons
15in. (38cm.) high

Lot Essay

Of the six inscribed panels, Tian qi bing ying nian meng qiu ji ri dan, dating the bell to the Tianqi era, Bingying year (1626), an auspicious autumn day; the longest inscription, Shanghai xian er shi bao long huang miao di zi lu zi qing zi, mentions that the bell was commisioned by Lu Ziqing, a disciple of the Dragon King Temple in Shanghai county.