Lot 2101. A rare and important Imperial gilt-bronze ritual 'ruibin' bell, bianzhong, Qianlong mark and of the period, dated Qianlong 8th year, corresponding to 1743. Estimate  USD  600,000 ～ 1,000,000. Sold for US$ 607,500 (€565,011). Photo: Bonhams.

Finely-cast in concave cylindrical form, the flat top surmounted by a pair of addorsed crouching dragons, intricately worked with scaled, arched backs, the large heads with ferocious expressions and mouths agape to reveal pointed fangs, the concave sides crisply cast with a pair of writhing dragons with intricately rendered scales striding amidst clouds above a band of rolling waves, the dragons separated by vertical rectangular cartouches, one enclosing an incised dated reign mark reading Qianlong ba nian zhi, the other with two characters in high relief reading huangzhong, all between a band of formalized cloud wisps and eight circular striking discs around the base. 8 1/4in (21cm) high - 11 lbs 15oz (5.425kg) weight

Provenance: Property of Gale and Donald Sturdevant, Los Gatos, California

Lot 2102. A rare and important Imperial gilt-bronze ritual 'ruibin' bell, bianzhong, Qianlong mark and of the period, dated Qianlong 8th year, corresponding to 1743. Estimate  USD  600,000 ～ 1,000,000. Sold for US$ 607,500 (€565,011). Photo: Bonhams.

Finely-cast in concave cylindrical form, the flat top surmounted by a pair of addorsed dragons, intricately worked with scaled, arched backs in crouched positions, the large heads with ferocious expressions and mouths agape to reveal pointed fangs, the concave sides crisply cast with a pair of writhing dragons with intricately rendered scales, striding amidst clouds above a band of rolling waves, the dragons separated by vertical rectangular cartouches, one enclosing an incised dated reign mark reading Qianlong ba nian zhi, the other with two characters in high relief reading ruibin, all between a band of formalized cloud wisps and eight circular striking discs around the base. 8 1/4in (21cm) high - 14 lbs 7oz (6.545kg) weight

Provenance: Property of Gale and Donald Sturdevant, Los Gatos, California

Bonhams. CHINESE WORKS OF ART AND PAINTINGS, 13 Mar 2017, New York