Foto uit archief Philip Zilcken 1846 - 1918

This photograph shows a large bronze bell, likely made in Southeast Asia, using the lost-wax casting method. A labor-intensive process, the bell would have begun with a clay core, followed by layers of wax applied to create the bell’s form and ornamentation. The resulting ceramic shell would then be heated, melting away the wax and leaving a void into which molten bronze was poured. Once cooled, the mold was broken to reveal the bell. Notice the detailed dragon motif forming the bell’s handle, and the precise bands of decoration around its body. These elements speak to the skill of the craftspeople involved and the cultural significance of the bell, used for centuries in Buddhist temples to signal times of prayer and contemplation. Considering the sheer amount of work that went into its production, it’s clear this object held great value, both practically and symbolically.