A part-gilt bronze bell 'niuzhong'

Description:

China, probably Qing dynasty or earlier
H. 26,5 cm, Gewich: 3,767 kg
Bronze bells played an important role in ritual music from the Zhou dynasty (ca. 1046-256 BC) to the Han dynasty. These bells without peals were hung on an ornate stand in graduated order of size and struck with a mallet. The shape of the bells allowed two different sounds to be produced by striking the centre or the sides of the bell surface. In general, larger bells produced a louder but deeper tone.
From the Helmut Ploog collection (1940 - 2024), collected from 1965 onwards
Bronze bells played an important role in ritual music from the Zhou dynasty (ca. 1046-256 BC) to the Han dynasty. These bells without peals were hung on an ornate stand in graduated order of size and struck with a mallet. The shape of the bells allowed two different sounds to be produced by striking the centre or the sides of the bell surface. In general, larger bells produced a louder but deeper sound. Compare the present bell with six bells from the collection of the Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, which were excavated from the magnificent tomb of the Marquis of Haihun, see the exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/732459?exhibitionId=%7B5ff35777-f859-45c9-83f6-b029566c47a3%7D&oid=732459&pg=0&rpp=20&pos=72&ft=*&locale=en - Partly green corroded