QING CHINESE GILT-BRONZE DRAGON CHINESE RITUAL BELL, BIAN ZHONG The bronze bell is finely cast, surmounted with a double-headed Pulao dragon handle flanked on the flat top. The rim band is a simple gilt bronze, followed by one of Lingzhi clouds and stylized lotus and vine. The body exhibits an incised Reign mark, which is inside a rectangle bordered by ruyi, the central motif in a scholar?s screen. A pair of five-toed dragons with flames and clouds form the upper part of the design. Each dragon has a Flaming Pearl in its claws and is surrounded by mountains and cresting waves. A lower band echoes the upper one of lotus and vine. The base band is composed of two empty medallions with Lingzhi clouds. A simple border completed the bell.