Handbell

Unknown Artist

19th century

Handbell by Unknown Artist

Medium

Bronze

Dimensions

Height 12.4 cm, Diameter 8.6 cm, Weight 408 g

Classification

Idiophone-Struck-bell-clapper

Culture

Dutch

Department

Musical Instruments

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889

Accession Number

89.4.1602

Art Historical Context

This elegant 19th-century Dutchbell, crafted from bronze, exemplifies the craftsmanship of European musical instrument makers during the Industrial Age. Standing at 12.4 cm tall with an 8.6 cm diameter and weighing 408 grams, its compact form belies a resonant voice produced by an internal clapper striking the bell's walls. As an idiophone—a category of instruments where sound emanates directly from the vibrating body—this handbell highlights bronze's enduring appeal for its acoustic properties, offering a clear, sustained tone ideal for signaling or ensemble performance. Hailing from Dutch c...

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