A large imperial gilt-bronze archaistic temple bell, bianzhong. Mark and period of Qianlong, dated to the tenth year of the reign of emperor Qianlong (corresponding to 1746)

the large rounded bell heavily cast, the flat top suspended from a powerfully cast four-sided geometric fret-work handle, the body cast in high relief with five panels of alternating decorative bands including bosses and stylised triagrams, divided by two rectangular panels each enclosing an inscribed tablet raised on a lotus pedestal and surrounded by ruyi cloud scrolls, one inscribed with the seven character mark Da Qing Qianlong shi nian zhi, and the other with the three characters, bei yi ze, the lower register cast with two large discs separating pairs of archaistic motifs. 31 cm., 12 1/4 in. Estimate 2,500,000—4,500,000 HKD

PROVENANCE: Christie's New York, 21st March 2000, lot 167.

NOTE: The inscription on one side records the date of manufacture and reads 'Da Qing Qianlong shi nian zhi' which translates as 'made in the 10th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign of the Great Qing Dynasty' (corresponding to 1745). The reverse is inscribed with three characters that read yiyi ce, indicating a classical pitch that corresponds to G-sharp.

It is thought that China was the first to produce tuned sets of bells, which occupied a prominent position in ancient Chinese ritual orchestras. Bells of this type were assembled in graduated sets of sixteen and suspended on wooden frames in two tiers of eight. Unlike archaic bell chimes which featured a range of sizes, these later bells were uniform in size but differed in thickness to produce the respective musical note.

Bianzhong were essential in ritual ceremonies at the imperial altars, formal banquets and during processions. It has been noted that in 1741, the Qianlong emperor set up a music division for court music and the specified melodies of his choice for the various court functions prevailed into the early 20th century.

It is rare to find Qianlong bells decorated with trigrams and extant examples are more commonly dated to the Kangxi reign; for example see two groups of five bells from the C. Ruxton and Audrey B. Love collection, sold at Christie's New York, 20th October 2004, lots 455 and 456; a single bell dated to the 52nd year of the Kangxi period, from the Lord and Lady Hesketh collection, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 9th October 2007, lot 1327; and another dated to the 54th year of Kangxi's reign, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 26th April 1999, lot 520. For a Qianlong bell of this shape dated to 1743, but cast with dragons pursuing flaming pearls, see one sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27th May 2008, lot 1540.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. 08 Apr 09. Hong Kong www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's