Qing Dynasty, the bell sturdily cast of slightly flattened barrel form, suspended from a handle modelled with scrolling clouds above angular motifs, flanked by two pairs of cranes and phoenix flying amidst swirlingclouds on the top, the sides further decorated with five bands of alternating bosses and foliate scrolls or stylised flames, interrupted on each of the wider sides with a rectangular panel framed withruyi scrolls and raised on a lotus pedestal, further divided on each of the narrower sides with a panel densely cast with a five-clawed dragon chasing for a 'flaming pearl', all below a frieze of xuanwu ('dragon tortoise')amid foliate scrolls and phoenix among flames encircling the top, similarly decorated at the bottom with a border of foliate scrolls and flames. Height 12 1/2 in.