Rain drums are made of an alloy of five different metals in variable proportions : first, copper, then in smaller quantities, tin, zinc, lead and iron or gold.

These are hung under a waterfall or just in the rain and amongst other things, attend upon worshiping the land. Water would fall on the tray of the drum which latter would reverberate a sound so pure depending on the alloy itself. The sound, like a prayer to summon the spirit of rain, thus foretold a plenteous harvest.

This drum offers a ritualistic iconography of great delicacy. The tympanum features a twelve sided star depicting the sun reigning on the aquatic world ; whereas the vegetable and geometric patterns of the body depicting the four cardinal points symbolize fertility and happiness.

This rain drum is exceptional given its well-preserved state, its sheen’s beauty and the refinement of sculptured scenery.

Its harmonious proportions, its fine shape and, above all, the profoundness and purity of its sonority make for this outstanding rare object.

Art of China
Yunan region
Yuan Dynasty
13^th century

Five element alloy
Height : 46 cm
Width : 71 cm

Throughout the Chinese Neolithic era, objects of strong symbolic value emerge. Among them, ‘Bi’, disc with a circular opening in its center. It is a symbol of the heavenly round and infinite Universe, and moreover a symbol of social rank’s and supreme power’s creation.

Originally, the ‘Bi’ is a ritual or ceremonial object celebrating the Sky’s and the Sun’s worship.

While the ‘cong’, small parallelepiped with a hole in its peak, represents the honest and mundane world, the ‘Bi’, round, symbolizes the Universe. Besides, none suggests that its true meaning would be of the emptiness it entwines. Of small size, they could be hanging down from the belt by a thin cord, similar to an amulet.

Although sometimes of bronze, it is, usually, made out of jade, most precious stone for Chinese people, moreover the stone of immortality (material of unchanging hardness) - to which are attached the five Confucian virtues : benevolence, rightness, dignity, wisdom and loyalty.

Dated at 2000 years prior to our era, the oldest discs ‘Bi’ are of big size and lack in design. This disc, of purified beauty, suggests a very old dating authenticated by traces of metal oxides.

Art of China
Neolithic era
Between 2000-1000 B.C

Pale-green jade with traces of metal oxides Diameter : 28 cm