Page 42 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art London Nov. 2019

Property from the Collection of John J. Studzinski CBE
大英帝國司令勳章受勳者John J. Studzinski珍藏
Lots 24 - 64
24
A RARE SET OF EIGHT ARCHAIC GRADUATED RITUAL
BRONZE BELLS, BIANZHONG
Eastern Zhou Dynasty
The bodies of oval cross-section with a concave base, cast on each
side with bosses, all within borders of yunlei spirals, each applied with
rope-twist loop handles at the top, the surfaces of a green patina with
some encrustation, stands.
The largest, 22cm (8 5/8in) high. (16).

£20,000 - 30,000
CNY180,000 - 270,000

東周 青銅夔龍紋鐘一組八件

Provenance: Vanderven Oriental Art, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, 31 March 2000.
John J. Studzinski CBE, London

來源：荷蘭斯海爾托亨博斯古董商，Vanderven Oriental Art，2000年
3月31日
大英帝國司令勳章受勳者John J. Studzinski珍藏

Bells play an important role among the bronze objects cast during According to the Zhouli (The Rites of Zhou), from the Eastern Zhou,
the Shang and Zhou dynasties where they served primarily in rituals only kings, marquises and other select members of the aristocracy
worshipping the ancestors. They formed part of an orchestra that were entitled to possess such bronze bells, which in turn symbolised
provided musical accompaniment to ritual dances and singing. social status becoming auspicious gifts among the aristocratic class.
Glimpses of Zhou ancestral ritual may be found in the shi jing (Classic It is believed that these bells were made only with refined material
of Poetry), a collection of songs and ritual hymns of Western and early on an auspicious day and their completion was celebrated with
Eastern Zhou date. The following poem describes the musicians and receptions where guests could enjoy the tunes and the original golden
dancers in action: sheen of the newly cast bells; see Feng Guangsheng, ‘Chime-bells.
Musical Instruments’, Artistic Style of Cultural Relics from the Tomb of
‘They strike the bells solemnly, Zenghouyi, Wuhan, 1991, p.158. See also B.Karlgren, The Book of
They play their se and qin zithers, Odes: Chinese Text, Transcription and Translation, Stockholm, 1950,
The reed-organs and the musical stones blend their sounds; pp.159-161; and L.Von Falkenhausen, Suspended Music: Chime -
Accompanied by them they perform the Ya and Nan [dances], Bells in the Culture of Bronze Age China, London, 1993, pp.23-28.
They wield their flutes without error.’
Compare with a related set of seven ritual bronze bells, Western Zhou
dynasty, which was sold at Sotheby’s New York, 20 March 2019, lot 663.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
40 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.