Large, Japanese, hanging bronze bell that is shaped almost like an upside down flower. Most of the bell is black, but there is metal detailing in multiple colors. The cannon of the bell is molded so that the front and back of it depicts a face. The face on the front has large areas of flaking blue paint, large eyes with flaking yellow paint, a small pointy nose, and a large toothy grin with flaking red and yellow paint. Long petal shaped motifs extend down across the shoulder of the bell. Below this there is a row of rectangles that wrap completely around the bell, each containing a silver and blue colored rooster. Under this there is a row of squares that also wraps around the bell, each containing two silver and blue animals with scales, and they are possibly meant to be fish or dragons. Below this there is another row of rectangles that each contain a silver and blue bird with its wings spread wide. Beneath this there is a row of circles that completely wraps around the bell each containing varying patterns of rectangles and squares. The mouth of the bell is notched around the entire bell.
Japanese
Temple Bell,
late 19th century
Bronze
,
135.9 x 86.4 cm (53 1/2 x 34 in.)
Object details
Accession number
M8e12
Primary Creator
Japanese
Full title
Temple Bell
Creation Date
late 19th century
Provenance
Entered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection at an unknown date.
Dimensions
135.9 x 86.4 cm (53 1/2 x 34 in.)
Display Media
Bronze
Web Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.
Permanent Gallery Location
Chinese Loggia
Bibliography
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), p. 57.
William N. Mason. “Notes, Records, Comments.” Gardner Museum Calendar of Events 6, no. 47 (21 Jul. 1963), p. 2.
Rights and reproductions
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Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.