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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.
Page data
- Page
- 1
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- 44f7c9c31c22378a
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 160721
- Core
- obj
- Type
- object
DTO data
{
"id": "160721",
"contentType": "object",
"title": "Bell 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": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1998.77.3",
"rights": "CC0",
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"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": "1998.77.3"
}
Context sent to Scholar
Document identity
{
"localId": "160721",
"label": "Bell with Diamond-Shaped Insignia",
"core": "obj",
"dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "160721",
"contentType": "object",
"title": "Bell 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": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1998.77.3",
"rights": "CC0",
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"language": "en",
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"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)"
],
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}
Document source extras
{
"tec": "bronze",
"tombstone": "Bell 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, 1998.77.3",
"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"
}
],
"url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1998.77.3",
"creditline": "The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund",
"updatedAt": "2026-06-18 11:45:47.887000",
"imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1998.77.3/1998.77.3_print.jpg",
"sourceId": 160721,
"dept": "Chinese Art",
"coll": "China - Zhou Dynasty",
"med": "bronze",
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}
Page context
{
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