Temple Bell Stand Appraisal

Vintage Cast Brass Pagoda Temple Bell Stand

This is a decorative table-top temple bell ensemble, cast primarily in brass or bronze with a significant aged patina. The structure mimics a traditional multi-tiered Asian pagoda gate (Torii style influence) atop a robust brick-textured archway. The ensemble features an oval-shaped base decorated with embossed floral or scrolling acanthus leaf motifs, containing a central recessed well, possibly originally intended for a small incense burner or candle. Suspended from a small eye-hook in the center of the arch is a solid brass bell with a rounded dome and straight-sided profile. The casting reveals intentional texturing to simulate masonry on the pillars and ribbed architectural details on the eaves of the roof tiers. On the right side of the structure sits a swinging striker or 'mallet' attached by a hinge, used to ring the bell. The overall color is a deep, burnished bronze-green, indicating oxidation and wear typical for a mid-20th-century souvenir or decorative export piece, likely dating from the 1950s to 1970s. Surface condition shows some dust accumulation in the crevices and localized Verdigris, but the structural integrity appears sound without visible cracks in the casting. Small Foo Dog or guardian lion figures appear to be cast into the base of the pillars for added symbolic detail.