A heavy resonant object shaped by movement sound and long use in open landscapes.
Cast in solid brass in North or Western India in the late nineteenth to early twentieth century this large livestock bell was made for practical use on camel or cattle harnesses rather than for decoration. The form is robust with a thick walled oval body double lug suspension mount and an original free swinging wooden clapper. Its surface is densely hand chased after casting with symmetrical foliate scrollwork paisley derived boteh forms rosette infills and fine punch dot texture reflecting Indo Islamic folk metalwork traditions seen in Rajasthani and Gujarati pastoral equipment. Worn smooth in places and deeply patterned in others the bell carries both visual weight and an unmistakable sense of purpose.

Measures: 10 cm W × 8 cm D × 13 cm H

Conditioned for presence and atmosphere

Viewings by appointment | North Sydney area

Global shipping arranged on request