A LARGE BRONZE ‘CATTLE HEAD’ BELL, DONG SON CULTURE

拍品描述

A LARGE BRONZE ‘CATTLE HEAD’ BELL, DONG SON CULTURE Vietnam, 500 BC-300 AD. Well cast, of flattened bell-form, the bulbous head surmounted by a curved tubular handle for suspension, decorated to the shoulder with a continuous band of concentric spiral motifs, flanked by similarly decorated raised circular appliqués. On one side, the head further decorated with raised circular bosses resembling bulging eyes. The surface with fine horizontal striations and the lower rim with a prominent band of pointed triangular teeth forming a striking sawtooth border. Dimensions: Height 24 cm Dong Son (named for Dong Son, a village in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam) was a Bronze Age culture in ancient Vietnam centered at the Red River Valley of northern Vietnam from 1000 BC until the first century AD. Vietnamese historians attribute it to the states of Van Lang and Au Lạc. Its influence spread to other parts of Southeast Asia, including Maritime Southeast Asia, throughout the first millennium BC. The culture long remained a mystery to Western archaeologists, and it was known only through its bronze objects, many of which were taken from burial sites. Dong Son bronze objects were exhibited in Europe for a century before their original location was even determined, and several theories and speculations over the dating methodologies of the culture continue to this day. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Galerie Zacke, 21 November 2025, lot 122 Price: EUR 7,150 or approx. EUR 7,400 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of casting and similar elongated bell form, raised decorative elements, and geometric ornamentation characteristic of Dong Son bronze ritual bells. Note the similar size (22.2 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s London, 30 January 2019, lot 149 Price: GBP 5,250 or approx. EUR 8,100 (for four) converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related casting tradition, use of raised ornamentation, and geometric surface decoration. Note the much smaller size (11 cm) of each bell.

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