Lot 1528. A finely cast bronze bell, bo zhong, Warring States Period, 5th century BC, 9¼ in. (23.5 cm.) high. Estimate USD 125,000 - USD 150,000. Price realised USD 194,500 © Christie's Images Ltd 2012

Of lenticular form, each side with a plain central panel flanked by alternating rows of coiled serpent bosses and interlaced dragon scroll, all within raised borders, the dragon scroll repeated in a shaped configuration below and again on the flat top below the handle formed by two confronted dragons biting the suspension loop.

Provenance: Hans Odder Collection, Germany, circa 1920s.
Sotheby's, London, 19 June 1984, lot 10.

Exhibited: Ostasiatische Kunst und Chinoiserie, Cologne, 1953.

Note: Like yong zhong, bo zhong were made for use in graduated sets, and according to J. So in Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1995, p. 381, bo zhong and niu zhong appear to have displaced the graduated set of yong zhong after the 5th century BC.