Untitled

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Date unknown · Gilt bronze · Asian Art

Often juxtaposed with a set of jade chimes, bronze bells were suspended from wooden frames and played at state ceremonies and banquets. The Qianlong emperor was prolific in commissioning chime sets for state altars and palaces. This current piece features openwork suspension crowns and geometric patterns for which no precedent among chime bells is known.

Artist

Unknown

Date

Date unknown

Medium

Gilt bronze

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Major Louis Livingston Seaman, 1903