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Bell (nao)

A bell with two convex sides of nearly rectangular shape and an opening at top rests on a slim cylindrical base. It boasts a green patina and is decorated with a geometric pattern and spikes. A small portion is missing at upper right.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A bell with two convex sides of nearly rectangular shape and an opening at top rests on a slim cylindrical base. It boasts a green patina and is decorated with a geometric pattern and spikes. A small portion is missing at upper right.

Date:

Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 B.C.)

Artist:

China, probably Hunan province

About this artwork

Bells of this type are among China’s earliest percussion instruments. Many have been unearthed from mountain slopes and along riverbanks in south China. This area was occupied by distinctive cultures that coexisted with the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties. Along this southern frontier, it appears that large bronze bells were more important than bronze vessels to the local aristocracy.

This bell was designed to be mounted on its hollow stem with its curved mouth facing up and struck from the outside with a mallet. Unlike other types of bronze bells that were assembled as chime sets, this one was intended to be played as an individual instrument. It may have been sounded during ceremonies or military campaigns. The eyebrow-shaped lines that skim the margins of this bell depict imaginary dragons or realistic reptiles.

Status

On View, Gallery 132

Department

Arts of Asia

Title

Bell (nao)

Place

China (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1046 BCE–771 BCE

Medium

Bronze

Dimensions

41.7 × 28.9 cm (16 1/2 × 11 3/8 in.); Diam.: 28.9 cm (11 3/8 in.)

Credit Line

Lucy Maud Buckingham Collection

Reference Number

1924.243

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/12086/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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