China, along the southern borders, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BCE) to Han dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE / 300s–100s BCE
Bell with Diamond-Shaped Insignia
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Bell with Diamond-Shaped Insignia as metalwork (China, along the southern borders, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BCE) to Han dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE · 300s–100s BCE).
This bell was struck from the exterior to produce musical tones.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this metalwork as bronze.
The museum's collection notes: These rare, elegant bronze bells were made in a tribal village along the southern borders of China. They differ greatly from bells made in the central regions, which often come in large sets and in varying sizes, and feature complex decorative patterns. The distinctive shape of these bells resembles a tall helmet topped by a pair of horns. A rope may have been tied around the horns so that the bells could be suspended. Each bell is decorated with a diamond-shaped insignia—probably to mark tribal affiliation. Although the bells are identical in size, each produces a different tone, which indicates that their casting was a highly refined proces
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtBell with Diamond-Shaped InsigniaOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.