Xupu Dajiangkou Bianzhong (Bronze chime bell)

Preserved in good condition. Made of Bronze. Heavy rust and corrosion mixed with mud and patina on the surface, which is blue in colour. The common characteristics of the bianzhong with three-column studs are as follows. The section of the body nearest the mouth is quite wide. There are studs on the top section of the body, which occupy less than half of the surface of the bell. Thick lines in low relief are used as frames to define the studs, the central panel (zheng) and the gu. There are no zhuan (areas between the studs). There are a total of 36 studs placed symmetrically around the body of the bell in four groups of nine, each group featuring 3 rows with 3 studs in each row. The tubular handle (yong) has a raised collar on top and a beam inside. Diameter: 0.4cm. The body of the bell is shaped like a combined pair of tiles and has 36 studs on it. The whole body of the bell has a plain design.