A RARE ARCHAIC BRONZE HANDLE FOR A BELL, YONG Eastern Zhou dynasty, 6th-5th century B.C.

A RARE ARCHAIC BRONZE HANDLE FOR A BELL, YONG
Eastern Zhou dynasty, 6th-5th century B.C.
Made in sophisticated casting techniques, the crouching winged chimera with horned taotie mask gnawing on its back to form a loop for suspension of the bell, its tail curled and hanging in mid-air, its claws firmly clamp to the raised collar of entwined serpents near the base of the handle, below three constrained loops showing finely-relieved panels in between, the base originally attached to a ritual bronze bell (yong zhong), now lost and neatly finished with sheet metal, pottery casting core remains on the interior.
11 1/8in (29.5cm) long
Footnotes:
東周 青銅甬

Provenance:
Paula Heuser Antiquitäten, Hamburg, 29 Juillet 1933
Collection Hermann Rosenfeld, Hamburg
Sotheby's London, 12 December 1989, lot 110
Christie's Paris, 13 December 2018, lot 511

來源：
Paula Heuser Antiquitäten, 德國漢堡，1933年7月29日
Hermann Rosenfeld舊藏，德國漢堡
倫敦蘇富比，1989年12月12日，拍品編號110
巴黎佳士得，2018年12月13日，拍品編號511

It is extremely rare to see a three-dimensional crouching mythical beast on the side instead of a simple loop. Although, according to Pi Daojian in Chu yishushi (The History of Chu Culture), Wuhan, 1995, it is not out of the realm in the late Spring and Autumn to early Warring States period that sculptural elements were incorporated to serve as functional parts. The constrained loops and gently bulging bundle on this handle demonstrates the artistic choice and extreme care to details. The intricate relief pattern is unique and may have been influenced by lacquer or textile designs of the period. Although fragmentary, the sculptural quality of this piece is self evident.

The present example belonged to a ritual bronze bell (yong zhong), which is known for its straight sides and arched rim, allowing the bell to strike two tones. Another feature of yong zhong is placing the loop at the base of the shank (yong) for suspension, tilting the bell at an angle for more stability when striking. Music and rites were integral parts of Zhou dynasty rituals. The use of musical instruments was reserved for the ruling class and strictly regulated according to court hierarchy. The highly sophisticated ritual music is best represented by the 1977 discovery of the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng (circa 433 B.C.), where a complete set of 64 bronze bells was preserved, still installed on its multi-level L-shaped wooden structure.

A large Eastern Zhou bronze yong bell handle was collected in the early 20th century by the American connoisseur Charles B. Hoyt, is illustrated by H. Tseng and R. Dart, The Charles B. Hoyt Collection in the Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, Volume I, Boston, 1964, no. 122. The decoration on the Hoyt example is more geometric, composed of entwined serpents flat to the surface, with a bird-form head on the side. The bird's beak forms a faceted loop.

Two yong zhong attributed to 6th-5th century B.C., each similarly decorated with a three-dimensional mythical beast at the base of the bell shank, are recorded in American museums: one in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, illustrated by R. Lefebvre d'Argencé Ancient Chinese Bronzes in the Avery Brundage Collection, Berkely, 1966, pp. 102-103, A; the other in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, from the Pillsbury Collection, illustrated on the museum's website, accession number 50.46.110.

T US Import Tariff
Please note that this lot is subject to an import tariff of 7.5%. The buyer will be required to pay the import tariff, which is included in the purchase price, along with sales tax, if applicable. The amount of the import tariff due is a percentage of the value declared upon entry into the United States (it is not based on the final bid price). The buyer should contact Bonhams prior to the sale to determine the amount of the import tariff.
Condition Report: PLEASE NOTE: This report describes, but may not be limited to, major condition issues for the lot. Overall in good, original condition. This is an excellent and rare example of finest quality. Occasional small dents and scrapes, sharp corners slightly worn showing the bare bronze color, but they are very minor and do not interfere with viewing. A thin layer of green patina throughout but slightly thicker on one side, disguising the delicate relief pattern. One horn on the taotie mask chipped off and the back of the mane chiseled in antiquity. The corrosion makes the intricate design appears a bit 'soft', but the quality of casting is no doubt extremely high. Originally attached to a bronze bell (yong zhong), now loss. The bottom finished with a sheet metal, probably from early 20th century. Ceramic casting core remains on the interior. Please note that this lot is subject to an import tariff of 7.5%. The buyer will be required to pay the import tariff of $1,125, which is included in the purchase price, along with sales tax, if applicable. The amount of the import tariff due is a percentage of the value declared upon entry into the United States (it is not based on the final bid price). The buyer should contact Bonhams prior to the sale to determine the amount of the import tariff.