Ghanti (bell)

Art Historical Context

This elegant brass ghanti, or bell, was crafted in India during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Standing twelve inches tall with a six-and-a-half-inch diameter, it belongs to the idiophone family of musical instruments, designed to produce sound when struck by its internal clapper. As part of the Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, acquired by the Metropolitan Museum in 1889, the bell offers visitors a tangible connection to’s rich tradition of ritual and devotional music. The bell’s surface features charming decorative motifs of monkeys and other animals, reflecting th...