PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT THIS BOTTLE IS DAMAGED, IT IS CRACKED, AS SHOWN IN THE PICTURES

This is a porcelain sake bottle in the shape of the Onoe Shrine Bell in Kakogawa, Japan. The bell is a large bronze casting that was made in Korea during the 11th century and made its way to Japan sometime later. The Onoe Bell bell became a legendary item during the late 18th century and early 19th century, attracting many travelers from all over Japan to visit and see it. This sake bottle was produced during that time, presumably as a souvenir to sell to those tourists. It is made as a representation of the bell, with the same shape and imagery on it, and it has text describing the story and technical details of the bell. Below is a translation of the text, as read from right to left in vertical lines:

• 播陽尾ノ上鐘
  

Ban’yō (Harima) Onoe Bell

• 抑此鐘は人皇十五代神功皇后三韓より御凱陣の時龍神さゝげ奉るよし申傳へたり

Legend has it that this bell was given as a tribute by Ryūjin when the 15th human sovereign Empress Jingū returned home in victory from the campaign to the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

• 鐘赤銅

Bell: shakudō

• 高三尺二寸

Height: 3 shaku 2 sun

• 厚一寸九分

Thickness: 1 sun 9 bu

• 圓七尺七分

Circumference: 7 shaku 7 bu

• 亘二尺五寸

Diameter: 2 shaku 5 sun

• イボ三十六

Bosses: 36

• 花形四寸

Flower-shaped ornaments: 4 sun

• 仏像楽人楽器等あり

Decorated with a Buddha image, musicians, musical instruments and others