c. 1875 Antique Indian Bronze Elephant Claw Bell, Large 5 3/4" Bell with 21 Claws

$425.00
A wonderfully substantial and beautifully weathered antique Indian bronze elephant claw bell, measuring approximately 5 3/4 inches tall. The bell has the characteristic form of the traditional elephant bell, with a large rounded suspension knob at the top, incised linear decoration encircling the body, and a dramatically stepped flare terminating in 21 long, curved claw-like projections around the mouth. Inside is the original striking mechanism. The substantial brass-clad iron striking ball was originally suspended from a steel ring fixed within the bell; the ring has since released and the clapper is now loose inside the bell. The result is an especially pleasing object to handle, as the loose clapper remains an integral part of the original construction while allowing the bell to serve equally well as a sculptural decorative object. Elephant and "claw" bells of this type are associated particularly with the traditional bell-making centers of India, where substantial bronze examples were produced for use with elephants. Surviving 19th-century examples demonstrate the longstanding tradition of these distinctive bells, while later and smaller brass examples continued to be produced as decorative and ceremonial objects. This example has tons of honest age and patina, with extensive surface wear, softened edges, and accumulated oxidation that beautifully reveal its long history of use. We have left the surface entirely untouched. Rather than presenting as a bright, polished decorative reproduction, it has the wonderful character of an object that has genuinely lived a life. The bell was recovered in Golspie, Scotland, adding an unusual Scottish provenance to an object of South Asian origin. Its substantial size and sculptural form make it particularly versatile today: it can be displayed as an intriguing doorstop, paperweight, bookend, shelf object, or decorative accent, or simply appreciated as an unusual piece of traditional metalwork. It is also an exceptionally tactile object—the combination of the heavy bell, 21 projecting claws, loose original clapper, and deeply aged surface makes it difficult to mistake for modern decorative ware. An evocative and unusually large example of an Indian elephant claw bell, retaining its original construction and an extraordinary natural patina. Check out some of my other antiques here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=6783279 Or just browse around the shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP
A wonderfully substantial and beautifully weathered antique Indian bronze elephant claw bell, measuring approximately 5 3/4 inches tall. The bell has the characteristic form of the traditional elephant bell, with a large rounded suspension knob at the top, incised linear decoration encircling the body, and a dramatically stepped flare terminating in 21 long, curved claw-like projections around the mouth. Inside is the original striking mechanism. The substantial brass-clad iron striking ball was originally suspended from a steel ring fixed within the bell; the ring has since released and the clapper is now loose inside the bell. The result is an especially pleasing object to handle, as the loose clapper remains an integral part of the original construction while allowing the bell to serve equally well as a sculptural decorative object. Elephant and "claw" bells of this type are associated particularly with the traditional bell-making centers of India, where substantial bronze examples were produced for use with elephants. Surviving 19th-century examples demonstrate the longstanding tradition of these distinctive bells, while later and smaller brass examples continued to be produced as decorative and ceremonial objects. This example has tons of honest age and patina, with extensive surface wear, softened edges, and accumulated oxidation that beautifully reveal its long history of use. We have left the surface entirely untouched. Rather than presenting as a bright, polished decorative reproduction, it has the wonderful character of an object that has genuinely lived a life. The bell was recovered in Golspie, Scotland, adding an unusual Scottish provenance to an object of South Asian origin. Its substantial size and sculptural form make it particularly versatile today: it can be displayed as an intriguing doorstop, paperweight, bookend, shelf object, or decorative accent, or simply appreciated as an unusual piece of traditional metalwork. It is also an exceptionally tactile object—the combination of the heavy bell, 21 projecting claws, loose original clapper, and deeply aged surface makes it difficult to mistake for modern decorative ware. An evocative and unusually large example of an Indian elephant claw bell, retaining its original construction and an extraordinary natural patina. Check out some of my other antiques here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=6783279 Or just browse around the shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP