Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
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.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
160718
label
Set of Bells with Diamond-Shaped Insignia
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
160718
contentType
object
title
Set of Bells with Diamond-Shaped Insignia
description
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.
date
300s–100s BCE
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79982352
genreSpecific
Metalwork
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 24.1 cm (9 1/2 in.)
cul
China, along the southern borders, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BCE) to Han dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE)
accession
1998.77
Source extras
tec
bronze
tombstone
Set of Bells with Diamond-Shaped Insignia, 300s–100s BCE. China, along the southern borders, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BCE) to Han dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE). Bronze; overall: 24.1 cm (9 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund, 1998.77
collection
China - Zhou Dynasty
citations
citation
"The Power of Form" <em>Kaikodo Journal</em>. vol. VII (Spring 1998) pp. 62–283
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 51, pp. 166–167, 265–266
creditline
The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
updatedAt
2026-06-18 11:45:47.867000
sourceId
160718
dept
Chinese Art
coll
China - Zhou Dynasty
med
bronze
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
9a78ee8dd3654d72