For your special garden setting or indoor display space.

Huge Hand Cast blue and green patina bronze bell With Multiple Signed panels.
Bold pleasing sound.

Beautiful deep resonating ring tones await the new owner of this huge one-of-a-kind antique bronze bell from old Japan. Its beautiful blue and green patina makes it an attractive and desirable work of art. This distinctive dragon headed bell called ryuzu and remarkable protrusions called chi chi or nyu are crafted by generations old skilled Japanese specialists to improve sound resonance and are unique to Japan’s ancient traditions.

This antique hand cast bronze temple bell dates to the Showa period. Translation reads:
Panel one:
Donor Sotani, Yoshio, ” Dedicated to our ancestors” with the names of ancestors, Oct. 1984
A second panel reads: ” Dedicated to our ancestors” with the names of diferent ancestors and donor: Kawauchi, Tadajiro

Signed with prolific Kanji signatures from donors and patrons- please see photographs.

A rare survivor, this rugged bell was gently used.

Please note its impressive cast dragon headed top ryuzu, thick walls and original blue gray toned patina.

Dimensions: 27 inches tall and 14.5 inches diameter. It has been used and possesses an original blue and green aged patina appropriate to its age-just the way we like to find them.

Its deep resonating sound is guaranteed to please you.

We will also include a complimentary hand striker.

Unique. Great garden consideration.

Only One.

Lifetime guarantee of authenticity.

History of Japan’s temple bells, bonsho :
Rather than containing a clapper, bonsho is struck from the outside, using either a handheld mallet or a beam suspended on ropes.
Antique Japanese bronze temple bells have a handle of dragon heads called ryuzu, protrusions called chi chi or nyu and to improve resonance of sound, protruding, tsuki-za, striking panels and in some instances possess a mei-bun inscription of the bell’s history.

Bonsho or 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. Now in our Kyoto warehouse awaiting our container shipment.