Page 98 - Christie's London Fine Chinese Ceramics Nov. 2019

The current bell was once in the impressive and eclectic
collection of the famous American businessman William
Randolph Hearst (1863-1951). A man of indomitable energy
and determination, Hearst became both a major, and extremely
infuential, publisher and the owner of an art collection of
immense size and scope. Indeed, according to one of Hearst’s
obituaries, during the 1920s and 1930s his purchases accounted
for some twenty-fve percent of the international art market.
Hearst kept much of the collection at Hearst Castle, San Simeon,
California. Following the death of his mother in 1919, William
Fig. 3: Two Imperial gilt-bronze bells dated to 1744, Palace of Fontainebleau, France. Randolph Hearst inherited thousands of acres of land in the San
Photo © RMN-Grand Palais (Château de Fontainebleau)/Gérard Blot
Simeon area, and in the succeeding years he purchased more
land, which eventually extended to 250,000 acres. He worked
plaque in the lowest register of the decoration. The smaller
with the architect Julia Morgan (1872-1957) to create a retreat,
version (height: 21 cm.) has fewer minor bands in the design,
which he named La Cuesta Encantada (Enchanted Hill). This
only a simple outline on the inscription plaques and eight discs,
retreat came to comprise some 165 rooms as well as 123 acres
alternating with clouds, in the lowest register of the decoration.
of gardens, terraces walkways and pools. It was also designed
In the case of both the current 1743 bell and the smaller 1743 bell
to showcase Hearst’s remarkable collection of art. Although
sold by Christie’s in 2015, the loop on the top of the bell – from
Hearst had to leave La Cuesta Encantada in 1947, before it was
which it would have been suspended on a frame – is cast in
fnally completed, due to ill health, the collection remained at San
the shape of a dragon, depicted with a head at either end. This
Simeon, and much of it can still be seen there today.
dragon is Pulao, one of the nine sons of the dragon, who was
On 5th February, 1921, the current bell was ofered for sale by
believed to be quite small in size but with a roar that could shake
one of the most famous Asian art dealers of the day, Sadajiro
heaven and earth. Pulao was believed to roar particularly loudly
Yamanaka (1866-1936), in a sale at the American Art Galleries,
when he saw a whale, and thus the instrument used to strike the
New York entitled ‘The Notable Yamanaka Collection of Artistic
bells is often shaped like a whale to suggest the loudest sound.
Oriental Objects and Decorative Art’, where it was listed as lot
A set of sixteen gold bells bearing the marks ‘Qianlong wushiwu
579. Bought by Hearst, records show that the bell was sent
nianzhi’ (made in 55th year of Qianlong reign, equivalent to AD
to San Simeon on 3rd May 1921. After the death of William
1790), is also preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing (illustrated
Randolph Hearst in 1951 the bell was stored with other items
in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum –
from the collection, but on 9th January, 1961, it was purchased
57 - Treasures of Imperial Court, Hong Kong, 2004, pp. 6-7, no.
by Hearst’s former daughter-in-law Mrs. Blanche Wilbur Hill, and
5.). This gold set was given to the Qianlong Emperor by oficials
passed by descent within the family.
in celebration of his eightieth birthday. Being gold, rather than
The Qianlong Emperor is regarded by many scholars as the
gilded bronze, they would not have produced clear notes when
greatest of all the Chinese Imperial collectors, and it is perhaps
struck and were thus symbolic and for display, rather than for
ftting that this rare and magnifcent bell should have been
musical use in ritual like the current bell. It appears that the last
acquired by William Randolph Hearst - one of the greatest
Qing emperor, Puyi, used these gold bells as lien against a loan
American collectors of the 20th century.
from Beijing’s Yanyue Bank, but they were returned to the Palace
in 1949 (discussed ibid, p. 6).

96 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.