A CAST IRON 'BAGUA' TEMPLE BELL, GUANGXU PERIOD, DATED 1876 China. Of domed shape with everted rim, surmounted by a loop handle in the form of a mythical beast, the top pierced with two holes, the sides cast in low relief with an inscription, the lower part decorated with the eight trigrams (bagua) within four reserves, surrounded by a wavy border.

Inscriptions: Inscribed around the body describing the bell as a donation, signed 'Chao Shixiang', dated 'Da Qing Guangxu bingzi er nian', corresponding to 1876.
Provenance: From the collection of Ralph Pike and thence by descent in the same family. Ralph Pike was a British customs officer in China, who returned to Southwest England in 1934.
Condition: Fair condition, overall as expected and still displaying very well. Extensive wear, casting imperfections, some losses, corrosion and weathering, minor dents here and there.

Weight: 23 kg
Dimensions: Height 46.2 cm

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 25 June 2013, lot 8348
Price: USD 11,250 or approx. EUR 13,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large cast-iron bell
Expert remark: Compare the related form and similar size (49 cm)



光緒1876年八卦紋鐵鐘
中國，鐵鐘頂部有神獸形環柄，外壁淺浮雕，下方有八卦紋與波浪紋。

款識：皇圖鞏固，大清光緒丙子二年仲冬，月 谷旦；帝道遐昌，眾姓弟子仝捐神鐘一口 于；風調雨順，中矶觀，永遠供奉；國泰民安，金火，趙仕祥。
來源：Ralph Pike，保存在同一家族。Ralph Pike是一名在中國的英國海關官員，1934 年返回英格蘭西南部。
品相：狀況良好，大面積磨損、鑄造缺陷、缺損、風化和局部小凹痕。

重量：23 公斤
尺寸：高 46.2 厘米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：舊金山邦瀚斯，2013年6月25日，lot 8348
價格：USD 11,250（相當於今日EUR 13,500）
描述：1906年大型鐵鐘
專家評論：比較相近外型和相似的尺寸(49厘米)。