PF1217

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Lot 147
  • 147

Importante cloche de temple impériale archaïsante en bronze doré (bianzhong) Chine, dynastie Qing, marque et époque Kangxi (1662-1722), datée de la 52ème année correspondant à 1713

Estimate
200,000 - 300,000 EUR
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Description

  • gilt bronze
la forme puissante rappelant celle d'un fût, surmontée d'une anse formée de deux dragons regardant dans des directions opposées, chacun la gueule ouverte écumante laissant apparaître la langue et les crocs, la crinière et les écailles finement sculptées, les côtés légèrement bombés agrémentés de quatre panneaux verticaux abritant rivets et trigrammes séparés par quatre cartouches rectangulaires, l'un abritant la marque Kangxi wushier nian zhi (fait pendant la 52ème année du règne de Kangxi), le cartouche opposé porte les deux caractères Guxian indiquant la tonalité musicale de la cloche, les deux autres cartouches agrémentés d'un dragon kuilong archaïsant surmonté d'un ruyi, huit disques en relief enserrant la base

Condition

The bell shows overall traces of wear consistent with age and use : There are scratches and dents stattered across the top, to the raise parts of the design and particularly visible in the lower part of the bell where some of the gilding has been scratched/worn off (visible in catalogue illustration) There are traces of bright green residu in the recessed areas of the dragon handle and in the bands of trigrams and in the cast inscriptions and dragons on the body. It is extremely heavy and the gilding is of a lighter, more golden tone, than the catalogue illustration suggest.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Large and very heavy gilt bronze bells such as the present lot were assembled in sets of sixteen and produced twelve musical tones, with four tones repeated in a higher or lower octave. The present bell is the fifth pitch (guxian) of the yang key from its set. Cast in equal size but varying in thickness, these bells were attached to tall wooden frames in two rows of eight as depicted by Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766) in his painting Imperial Banquet in Wanshu Garden (c. 1755), included in the exhibition Splendors of China's Forbidden City. The Glorious Reign of Emperor Qianlong, Chicago, 2005, cat.no. 101. Instrumental in court ritual, only four sets of bells of this form appear to have been cast during Kangxi's reign supposedly for the Temple of Agriculture in Beijing. The first two sets in the 52nd year (1713) and the second two sets in the 54th year (1715), each set dated by inscription cast each bell.

The present lot belongs to the earlier set, an only several examples of this set are known, compare one example sold in our New York rooms, 24th April 1975, lot 240, two further examples sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 17th May 1979, lot 454, and 9th October 2007, lot 1327, and a fourth bell sold in our New York rooms, 20th March 2012,  lot 70.