bell

Bronze bell. The lowest register of decoration consists of a large taotie (monster) faces sitting above the mouth of the bell against an otherwise plain background. In addition to the snake-like horns of the creature two large scaly dragon sprout from the centres of the faces. The rest of the lower border is filled with invented beasts. The remainder of the bell's surface is covered in three horizontal rows of six bosses made as small coiled creatures holding down a bird, possibly of the anatidae family, grouped into groups of three each by bands and panels of interlace in low relief. The flat top section of the bell is decorated with two exquisite cast dragons that make a loop handle, from which the bell would have been suspended. Large relief faces, like those at the lip, lie across the top of the bell.