Set of three

Set of three "horned" bells. Vietnam, Dong Son culture (2nd century BC-3rd century AD).
Bronze.
They present damages typical of the use and the passage of time. With holes. They show corrosion.
A similar model is published in L'art de l'Asie du Sud-Est, Citadelle & Mazenod, 1994.
Measurements: 20.2 cm; 24.2 cm and 20.7 cm (height).

The three "horned" bells in tender, so called because of the pair of goat horns cast on their upper part that act as buttons, are decorated with representations of cattle, deer, birds and geometric motifs. All three have the same format: bell-shaped body that expands towards the lower part and horns on the upper part. They also have two vertical rectangular sound holes, facing each other, in the upper part of the body.

Bells were an important percussion instrument in ancient China and the Far East. They emerged in the Western Zhou dynasty and flourished from the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period through the Qin and Han dynasties. Commonly used as palace music, they can be played alone, together or as an accompaniment to singing or dancing. It also reflects the symbol of status, rank and power.