A Chinese cloisonne enamel bell, yongzhong A Chinese cloisonne enamel bell, yongzhong A Chinese cloisonne enamel bell, yongzhong A Chinese cloisonne enamel bell, yongzhong A Chinese cloisonne enamel bell, yongzhong A Chinese cloisonne enamel bell, yongzhong A Chinese cloisonne enamel bell, yongzhong A Chinese cloisonne enamel bell, yongzhong A Chinese cloisonne enamel bell, yongzhong

A Chinese cloisonne enamel bell, yongzhong

Reference: ART1002282

The bronze is crafted in lenticular form, decorated with archaistic motifs including large taotie masks at the bottom above the arched rim. The central trapezoidal panel is inset with eighteen bosses alternating with three rows of angular scroll. The flat top with further taotie masks repeated at the central bulb of the shank and flanked by a pair of gilt-bronze phoenix-form flanges.

Catalogue notes: the form of this bell is in imitation of bronzes of the late Spring and Autumn period (early 5th century BC). Compare a smaller (33.5 cm. high) cloisonné enamel bell of smaller size illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 43 - Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Beijing, 2002, p. 156, no. 148, and one of the same size dated to Yongzheng-Qianlong period (1723-1795) sold at Christie's New York, 19 March 2008, lot 366.