Page 94 - Christie's London Fine Chinese Ceramics Nov. 2019

PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN COLLECTION
*85
A MAGNIFICENT RARE IMPERIAL GILT-BRONZE BELL, BIANZHONG
QIANLONG PERIOD, DATED BY INSCRIPTION TO THE EIGHTH YEAR OF THE QIANLONG
REIGN, CORRESPONDING TO 1743
The bell is powerfully cast to the exterior in high relief with a wide band depicting a pair of fve-clawed
dragons surrounded by scrolling clouds above crashing waves, separated by two rectangular inscribed
panels. One panel encloses the incised reign mark Qianlong ba nian zhi, 'made during the eighth year of
the Qianlong reign', and the other panel contains the incised characters beinanlu, indicating that the bell's
musical pitch is the low octave of the tenth note. The band of dragons is set between narrow bands of
foliate sprays and cloud scrolls, all above two circular striking discs, one to the front and the other to the
back. The bell is surmounded by a pair of fve-clawed dragons which intertwine to form the handle.
10æ in. (27.3 cm.) high
£800,000-1,200,000 US$1,000,000-1,500,000
€910,000-1,400,000
PROVENANCE:
With Yamanaka & Co., Ltd.
The American Art Galleries, New York, The Notable Yamanaka Collection of Artistic Oriental Objects and
Decorative Art, 5 February 1921, lot 579.
Collection of William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951), purchased from the above auction.
Collection of Blanche Wilbur Hill (former daughter-in-law of William Randolph Hearst), purchased from
the above collection on 9 January 1961.
Sotheby's New York, 15-16 September 2015, lot 160.

清乾隆八年（1743年） 御製鎏金銅交龍鈕雲龍趕珠紋「倍南呂」編鐘
《乾隆八年製》款

來源:
山中商會
The American Art Galleries，紐約，《The Notable Yamanaka Collection of Artistic Oriental Objects and
Decorative Art》，1921年2月5日，編號579
William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951)收藏，購自上述拍賣
Blanche Wilbur Hill（William Randolph Hearst前兒媳）1961年1月9日購自上述收藏
紐約蘇富比，2015年9月15-16日，拍品160
重要歐洲私人珍藏

William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) Yamanaka catalogue cover Yamanaka catalogue entry

92 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.