Antique Japanese Bronze Bonsho Temple Bell with Dragon Stand and Shumoku Mallet, Meiji Era (1868-1911) | SKU: 26M-832

Antique Japanese Bronze Bonsho Temple Bell with Dragon Stand and Shumoku Mallet, Meiji Era (1868-1911) | SKU: 26M-832

A monumental cast-bronze bonsho suspended from a hand-sculpted dragon -- a rare and commanding piece of Japanese antique metalwork.

A bonsho is a large hanging temple bell traditionally cast in bronze and rung at Buddhist temples across Japan to mark the hours, call worshippers to ceremony, and carry prayers skyward. This exceptional example is mounted on an elaborate self-contained dragon stand: a finely detailed ryu (dragon) coils upward, its body forming the support column, while its outstretched neck and head extend as a horizontal arm from which the bell is suspended by heavy link chains. The casting quality throughout is superb -- the dragon's scales, claws, mane, and fierce expression are rendered with the precision characteristic of Meiji-era Japanese bronze foundry work, when craftsmen combined centuries of Buddhist bell-casting tradition with a renewed appetite for intricate sculptural detail. The bell itself is enriched with raised relief panels framed by scrolling borders: one face displays a grid of bosses (the traditional striking points known as chi), while the opposing face carries a dramatic high-relief figure -- possibly a tennyo (celestial maiden) amid swirling clouds and flame -- surrounded by floral roundels. A wide band of continuous arabesque scrollwork encircles the lower skirt, and a scalloped lotus-petal base cradles the entire assembly. A cylindrical wooden mallet (shumoku) is suspended separately by chains from a secondary arm, ready to strike.

In a modern home, this bonsho dragon bell makes a breathtaking living room accent or entryway statement piece -- the kind of sculptural focal point that anchors a Japandi-style or wabi-sabi aesthetic with genuine historical weight. Displayed on a low platform or stone slab, it commands attention as a floor sculpture in a study, meditation room, or minimalist dining room. Collectors of Japanese antique bronzeware and Asian decorative arts will immediately appreciate the rarity of finding bell, stand, mallet, and chain intact as a complete set. It also makes an extraordinary housewarming gift for anyone with a passion for East Asian culture or high-end interior sculpture.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1868-1911 (Meiji)
• Material: Cast bronze with dark natural patina
• Use: Buddhist temple bell -- rung during ceremonies, prayers, and timekeeping
• Modern Use: Living room or entryway sculptural accent; meditation room focal point; statement piece in Japandi or wabi-sabi interiors
• Features: Full dragon-form stand with coiled body and outstretched neck arm; heavy link suspension chains; raised relief panels with chi bosses and a celestial figure in clouds; continuous scrollwork border at skirt; scalloped lotus-petal base; original cylindrical shumoku mallet suspended on separate chains; deep even patina throughout
• Dimensions: 8"W x 4 1/2"D x 11"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare and complete Japanese antique bronze bonsho set -- bell, dragon stand, chains, and mallet -- offering centuries of temple craftsmanship as a singular work of decorative art.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All antique items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.