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Description: | Cast copper alloy crotal bell, or closed rumbler bell, spherical in shape with a central mid rib that runs around the circumference of the bell at its widest point, which is 53 mm in diameter, where the two hemispheres have been soldered together. The top hemisphere of the bell has two larger sound holes and two smaller rivet holes which would have held the cast suspension loop, now lost, to the body of the bell. This upper hemisphere has surface layers of corrosion, but still appears to be undecorated. The base hemisphere of the bell has the initials R W of the maker, on either side of the dumbell-shaped aperture; each initial is flanked by an annulet, and together they are within two incised concentric circles. The circles are surrounded by ten arms of parallel pairs and trios of lines to form a 'sunburst' pattern. The corroded iron pellet survives within the bell. These cast pellet bells are known from throughout the Post-medieval period, and were used as a dress accessories (Egan, 2005, 57) as well as for activities such as hawking (Read, 1988, 126).Margeson (1993) illustrates a similar bell with the initials W G on the base on page 214, Fig.162, No.1760, which probably dates from the 18th century, but was unstratified.Bailey (1992) illustrates a similar crotal bell with the initials R W on it which he attributes to Robert Wells Foundry in Aldbourne, Wiltshire, which was producing a number of different sizes of rumbler bells from 1760 to 1826, on page 42, No.30. They often had a catalogue number near the suspension loop, but this bell has accretions in that area so that it is not legible.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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