Cloche rituelle impériale en bronze, Ghanta et son coffret Chine, dynastie Qing, marque et époque Qianlong (1736-1795)

conçue en deux parties à l'imitation des prototypes du règne de Xuande, la prise en bronze doré se terminant en vajra, finement ciselée d'une tête de Vairocana coiffée d'une couronne orfèvrée, l'expression paisible et le regard orienté vers le bas, la cloche en bronze patiné décorée d'une rangée de roues dharma entre deux frises de sceptres vajra, une bande de pétales inscrits de caractères tibétains lança autour du sommet, l'intérieur marqué d'une inscription tibétaine en relief et le heurtoir suspendu au centre d'un lotus, marque Qianlong Nian zao autour de la tige centrale, boîte originale en bois laqué rouge et or

Collection assemblée par l'arrière grand-père de l'actuelle proprétaire à la fin du XIXe siècle et dans la famille depuis.

This bronze bell is in good condition with the exception of some green oxidization developping in the interstices of the gilt bronze finial, more pronounced on the figure's crown and around the central pike of the half vajra (showing on the illustration in the cataogue), some surface wear and light pitting to the claws of the vajra. The original wood box container detaches in two parts, the lacquered leather coating is chipped in one place at the junction between the shaft and the lower section of the container (showing on the photo), the bell container is possibly missing its bottom part. The box of the vajra and of the bell were originally attached together to form one single set (for a presentation on how the two boxes were originally attached together see "Qing Legacies, The Sumptuous Art of Imperial Packaging", The Macau Museum of Art, 2000, pl.59, p.149,).
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present bell (ghanta) is one of the eight Buddhist ritual implements, which also includes the vajra, phurba, the conch shell, the kapala bowl, the kapala drum, the bone flute and the iron dagger. These objects were housed in a cabinet in the Buddhist chapel. The bell and its companion the vajra represent wisdom and strength that dispels the evil spirit.

Wang Jiapeng in his article 'Ritual Implements', Buddhist Art from Rehol, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Art, Kaohsiung, 1999, p. 253, mentions that the 'Imperial Workshops manufacturing ritual implements were heavily supervised by the important lamas Zhangjia Rimpoche and Anwangjiu Zhu'er. They were then inspected by the Emperor himself in order to ensure that canonical prescriptions for the making of these objects were followed'. A court record dated to the 35^th year of the Qianlong reign (1770) notes that the 'Qianlong emperor commanded to the eunuch Hushijie that Zhushan and Jinghui be sent to ask the Zhangjia Rimpoche how bronze, gold and precious stones ought to be used in the making of vajras and bells' (ibid., p. 253).

A closely related bell was included in the exhibition Buddhist Art from Rehol, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Art, Kaohsiung, 1999, cat. no. 74-2; and another was offered in our Hong Kong rooms, 2^nd May 2005, lot 539. See also a similar vajra bell but carved from white jade, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 135. For a Ming prototype, see one with a Xuande reign mark and of the period, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in Cultural Relics of Tibetan Buddhism Collected in the Qing Palace, Hong Kong, 1992, pl. 132-1.
An identical set of Ghanta and Vajra in their lacquered wooden container from the Gugong, was published in Qing Legacies, The Sumptuous Art of Imperial Packaging, The Macau Museum of Art, 2000, pl.59, p. 149