Grand Wanli Iron Bell

A cast iron bell, when struck with a wooden beam, announced the time of day to villagers. This monumental example is covered in relief casts of chrysanthemum blossoms and characters explaining that the piece was cast in 1613, the 42nd year of the reign of the Wanli Emperor (r. 1572-1620). Characters on the surface detail the main hall in which the bell was kept and reveal that two brothers of the Jiang family commissioned the bell to be cast at the specified foundry. With its richly textured surface and ornate decoration, this grand bell makes for a striking sculptural object.