Here’s a beautiful and unique way to accent your indoor or outdoor garden space with this treasure from Japan!

This is a superb antique bronze casting of a wonderful medium to large-scale temple bell. This bell was sourced from an old Kyoto collection last year. It dates to the end of the Meiji period and displays an impressive blue green azurite patina with a floral a cut out heart motif and boasts attractive traces or original gold gilding- very unusual for bells of this age and quality.

These bells were often commissioned by wealthy families and donated as sacred gifts to temples and shrines on behalf of their family or in honor of a special family member. They may have also been used for utilitarian purposes such as fire warning bells and summoning family members in private homes.

This bell possesses a beautiful original old patina which highlights this 100-110 year old temple relic.

Dimensions: Large 13 inches tall and 11 inches diameter

Tone: When gentle struck it gives a nice ring with the striker we will include with our compliments (photos)

Quality: Fine aged patina with beautiful blue azurite patina and trace of gold gilding are visible. Quality casting.

This bell is a hard to find form and size; most found today are larger and heavier in scale.

Hand cast. Original gilding. Good garden accent.

History of Japan’s temple bells:
Buddhist bells known as tsurigane (hanging bells) or great bells are large bells found in Buddhist temples throughout Japan, used to summon the monks to prayer. This rare form may also have been used for other utilitarian purposes.