This item has been sold, and the description, image and price ($US) are for reference purposes only.
A Donsong bronze bell, Vietnam 1000 BCE - 300CE, in the form of a stylized figure with ancient green blue patina due to the copper content of the metal. Provenance: Parkham place gallery - Cito Cessna, Sydney, Australia / Todd Barlin collection. Height 5.31 in.

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  • Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.

    The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.

    It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
  • Bce - BCE following a number, is the abbreviation for Before the Common/Current/Christian Era and is the equivilent of "BC", so that 2013 BCE is the same as 2013 BC. The "BCE" designation has been adopted by writers wishing to be sensitive to non-Christians.
  • Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.

    As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.

    Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.

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A Donsong bronze bell, Vietnam 1000 BCE - 300CE, in the form of…