Bell, Zheng at The British Museum, London

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This massive and weighty bell originates from a specific region in Southwest China. Music played a vital role in the lives of ancient Chinese royalty. Drums were used as early as the Neolithic period, and with the invention of bronze casting, small bells emerged around 1650 BC, marking the beginning of a long tradition of music making for court ceremonies and rituals. Unfortunately, few early drums have survived due to their wooden construction and decaying animal skins. In contrast, bronze bells are more common and were cast with an elliptical shape, producing two distinct notes when struck from the outside - one at the midpoint of the lip and another at the corner. Shang bells were mounted on stands, positioned mouth-upwards. At Anyang, the late Shang capital in Henan province, sets of three or five different-sized bells were used together. The bell underwent significant development in central southern China, where massive bells were cast with bosses added to produce clear distinct notes and hung from a loop on the shaft, allowing them to vibrate freely. These new bells were reintroduced into northern centers and used in large ensembles at the Zhou court. Around 4th century BCE, China entered an era of persistent conflict known as the Warring States period. This time saw the rapid growth of large states (like Chu) over smaller ones due to technological advancements. Although historians often portray this era as excessively violent compared to the Spring and Autumn period, it was also marked by cultural and social progress through the expansion of various sects of Confucianism and Taoism. The public can access a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for free through "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory. This object is part of this effort. It was scanned using photogrammetry (processed with Agisoft PhotoScan) to create a detailed digital model for public access.