Bo (bell) and stand

Unknown

late 19th century · Copper, wood · Musical Instruments

The bo is a barrel-shaped bell from China that produces a single tone when struck. It has a suspension loop on the top and is hung on a stand. A detail found on many Chinese bells are nine mei, or nipples, grouped in three rows of three. The mei likely had symbolic meaning; the number nine is auspicious in Chinese cosmology and frequently signified the emperor.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 19th century

Medium

Copper, wood

Culture

Chinese

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889