Page 123 - Deydier The_Lippens_Collection_of_Ancient_Chinese_Bronzes

鐃

34 – ritual bronze bell nao
LATE SHANG DYNASTY
CIRCA 11 CENTURY B. C.
TH
H.: 41 CM L.: 29.8 CM W.: 20.8 CM

Ritual bronze bell nao used during special ceremonies when it was
placed upwards towards the sky.
The large body of elliptic section is supported by a long, thick, cylin-
drical handle. The main part of the nao’s body is decorated on each
side with a large stylized taotie mask in high relief.
The narrow frieze decorating the upper, narrower section of the
bell has in its centre a high relief taotie mask composed of two
confronting kui dragons shown in profile on a leiwen background.
Each extremity of the frieze is embellished with a walking dragon in
high relief shown in profile on a leiwen background.
The bell has a nice light green patina.

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