Publish by Antique Trade Gazette

This gilt bronze ritual bell or bianzhong from a set or carillon of musical chimes will be one of the highlights of a sale of Asian art to be held by Tessier Sarrou & Associés at Drouot on June 12.

It dates from the Kangxi era of the Qing dynasty. To aid dynastic harmony the Manchu (Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong) emperors encouraged refined court music which they decided to codify to a national standard. The Kangxi emperor established the first musical system in China in 1713 based around 16 notes divided into 12 for the months of the year and four flats. From this point bells such as these formed part of a carillon ranging in tone from low to high, each one engraved by hand before being gilded. 
Tessier Sarrou's 9in (21cm) high bianzhong is of typical barrel shape decorated in finely engraved relief with a central band of two five-clawed dragons flying over frothing waves chasing the sacred pearl and two panels : one inscribed Yi Ze, the other Kang Xi Bing Shen Nian Zhi corresponding to 1716.
The top is surmounted by two coiled dragons standing on their feet with their mouths agape to reveal pointed fangs.
It has a provenance to the family of Robert de Semallé (1849-1936) who brought it back from China in 1884 and is estimated at €200,000-300,000.