Ceremonial Bell, 3rd-2nd century BCE
Dong Sonexpand_more
Bronzeexpand_more
The C. Curtis Dunnavan Fund for the Purchase of Ancient, Near Eastern, Greek, Roman, and Asian Art, Gift of Ruth and Bruce Dayton, and The Putnam Dana McMillan Fundexpand_more 2004.130
On View in Gallery 213expand_more
The attenuated form, repeated double-spiral decoration, and lines with sawtooth markings are motifs unique to Dong Son culture (400 BCE–200 CE), a pan-Southeast Asian civilization inhabiting regions of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Yunnan province in China, and Indonesia. In the first millennium BCE, Dong Son production of magnificent large bronzes increased. This bell was cast using the piece-mold process developed by neighboring Chinese bronze-founders. Perhaps influenced by Chinese customs, where cast bronze bells were buried with society elites, musical vessels are associated with Dong Son burial rituals and often found in tombs. Decorated bronzes were also used in trade.
Details
- Title
- Ceremonial Bell
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2004.130
- Curator Approved
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