Miniature temple with bells

In the early 900s the Javanese court shifted its center of power from Central Java to East Java. By this point the Javanese had a long history of working in bronze, producing finely modeled images of Hindu and Buddhist deities. After the move east, artists turned away from producing icons of divine figures, concentrating instead on the production of ritual implements, especially bowls, lamps, bells, and other items used for religious ceremonies.

This temple tower with bells is an unusual piece, and its purpose is not known. Extensive restoration and repair complicate our understanding of this large bronze's original form. The three roofs of decreasing size mimic the thatched roofs found on temples in Bali today. The bells (some of which are recent replacements) are similar in style to the hand bells that were used by Hindu and Buddhist priests.