Handbell
Unknown Artist
19th century
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...