Bell (Lai Zhong)
c. 800–700 BC
Maker Unknown
Chinese Art
Bell (Lai Zhong), c. 800–700 BC. China, Shaanxi province, Meixian, Western Zhou dynasty (c. 1046-771 BC). Bronze; overall: 70.3 x 37 x 26.6 cm (27 11/16 x 14 9/16 x 10 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 1989.3 The technical sophistication of the unusual lens-shaped cavity allowed the bell to produce two different tones.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Metalwork
- Formatted Medium
- bronze
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- Overall: 70.3 x 37 x 26.6 cm (27 11/16 x 14 9/16 x 10 1/2 in.)
- Inscribed
- Inscription: Lai proclaimed: "Great and illustrious was my august late father who made his heart clean following the disciplined virtue of his forefathers and dutifully served the past king. I, Lai, now succeed him in service and dare not fail. Respectfully, from dawn to dusk I will earnestly--even unto death--serve the Son of Heaven, taking as a model the obligation of my forefathers." I, Lai, was presented with many things. Then came the [king's] gracious command: "Manage the fisheries and forests of the realm." "I, Lai, dare to respond to the great, illustrious, sagely, and gracious favor of the Son of Heaven, extolling him and using this as cause to make for my august late father Gongshu a set of harmonized bells. Ding, dong, bing, bong, ding, dong, bing, bong. May they be used in acts of piety, reverently gladdening past luminaries. May the past luminaries who dwell on high help perpetuate this command, sending down upon me good fortune, tranquility, and purity. May I, Lai, live long in service to the Son of Heaven." May sons' sons and grandsons' grandsons forever treasure these [bells].
- Departments
- Chinese Art
- Accession Number
- 1989.3
- Credit Line
- Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund
- Exhibitions
- Notable Acquisitions, Asian Autumn: New Objects/New Insights: Cleveland's Recent Chinese Acquisitions
- Rights Statement
- CC0
- Museum Location
- 241A Arts of Ancient China
Have a concern, a correction, or something to add?
