The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 24, 2024

Bell (Bo Zhong)

Bell (Bo Zhong)

early 400s BCE
(770–256 BCE)
bronze
Overall: 41.4 cm (16 5/16 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1962.44
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

The bell could produce two notes depending on where it is struck.

Description

Music in the Eastern Zhou dynasty not only served ritual purposes but also provided entertainment in feudal courts. The elliptical cross-section of the Chinese bronze bell is unique; it could produce two notes depending on where the bell is struck, either at the rim or near the center. The bell is suspended when played and often belongs to a graduated set arranged according to pitch and size. This bell displays elaborate ornamentation and exquisite workmanship. A twin-bodied serpent intertwined with two tigers forms the suspension loop at the top. Coiled serpents form the knobs on the body. The lower part bears an animal mask, its horns interlaced with abstract bird designs.
  • The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 246 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 246 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 326 archive.org
    Wilson, J. Keith. "Powerful Form and Potent Symbol: The Dragon in Asia." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 77, no. 8 (1990): 286-323. Reproduced: p. 292 www.jstor.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1991. Reproduced: p. 7 archive.org
  • Asian Autumn: New Objects/New Insights: Cleveland's Recent Chinese Acquisitions. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 18-December 31, 1994).
    Year in Review - 1962. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 24-November 25, 1962).
    Chinese Art, Venice, 1954, no. 75
  • {{cite web|title=Bell (Bo Zhong)|url=false|author=|year=early 400s BCE|access-date=24 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1962.44