Roman Metalwork: Bronze bell

Inv. No.: 82.055
Provenance: Roman
Date: 1st-4th century AD
Height: 16mm
Width: 15mm
 
Gift of David H. Swingler (Holland Coins and Antiquities).

This tiny bell is a rounded dome shape with a small hanger that is hexagonal in shape with one side attached to the top of the bell. There is a small round hole in the centre of the hanger through which a ring was probably passed in order to suspend the bell. The interior of the bell is half-filled with rust-coloured incrustation, probably the remains of an iron clapper. The bottom edge of the bell is irregular and the surface has a green patina plus a layer of dirt.

Function:
Used to produce a tinkling sound, worn for personal adornment or as an amulet or perhaps tied onto an animal such as a sheep or cow. It could also have been part of an apotropaic device such as a tintinnabulum, a phallic shape with suspended bells, hung in doorways to deter evil spirits.

Manufacture:
Cast using the lost-wax method.

Bibliography:
Galliazzo, V., Bronzi Romani del Museo Civico di Treviso, Roma, Giorgio Bretschneider, 1979, 156-158 ("Campanelli").

Comparanda:
Crummy, N. et al, Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds from excavations in Colchester 1971-9, Colchester, Colchester Archaeological Trust, 1983, Figs. 41.1610 (armlet with bell and bead); and 143.4165 (very similar bell perhaps worn by an animal).

Galliazzo, V., Bronzi Romani del Museo Civico di Treviso, Roma, Giorgio Bretschneider, 1979, No. 61, 1.

Merrifield, R., The Roman City of London, London, Ernest Benn, 1965, Pl. 135, 8 (bronze bell of similar shape found in the Walbrook, London).

Pirzio Biroli Stefanelli, L., Il Bronzo dei Romani, Roma, "Lrma" di Bretschneider, 1990, Figs. 161-2 and 163 (bronze tintinnabula/lamps with similar bells).

Ward-Perkins, J. and A. Claridge, Pompeii A D 79, Sydney, Australian Gallery Directors?Council, second edition, 1980, Nos. 195 and 196 (bronze tintinnabula with hanging bells).