Hand bell
Date1940-1960 ca.
Place MadeTibet, Asia
Serial No.none
SignednoneMarkingsnone
DescriptionTwo-piece, copper-based alloy construction. Iron clapper. Bells play an integral part in monastic ensembles, sounding either continuously or in short deliberate bursts. Five-pronged handle representing the central axis of the universe and the four cardinal directions. Held in the left hand, "of wisdom," in combination with the sacred scepter.
The handle is decorated at the top with a ritual half scepter (rdo rje), which has 5 prongs. Each prong emerges from a sea dragon's (makara) mouth. Below the makaras is the crowned head of a Buddha. The body of the bell features at the top, 8 "seed syllables" that represent the 8 female deities, each inscribed on the petal of a lotus flower; below this are 16 stylized faces of deities; while the lower rim features a row of vertically aligned scepters.
DimensionsHeight: 165 mm
Diameter (max.): 77 mm
Credit LineGift of Neil W. Goeppinger, 1990
Object number04927
On View
Not on view
1900-1925 ca.
1850 ca.
1880-1899 ca.
1760-1800 ca.
1900 ca.
