Cleveland Museum of Art

Bell with Diamond-Shaped Insignia

Date

300s–100s BCE

Medium

bronze

Culture

China, along the southern borders, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BCE) to Han dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

These rare, elegant bronze bells were made in a tribal village along the southern borders of China. They differ greatly from bells made in the central regions, which often come in large sets and in varying sizes, and feature complex decorative patterns. The distinctive shape of these bells resembles a tall helmet topped by a pair of horns. A rope may have been tied around the horns so that the bells could be suspended. Each bell is decorated with a diamond-shaped insignia—probably to mark tribal affiliation. Although the bells are identical in size, each produces a different tone, which indicates that their casting was a highly refined process.

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