Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
BELL
Unique ID: IOW-FBD4C2
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete and undecorated Medieval copper alloy-sheet sub-spherical bell (c. 1250-c. 1450 AD).
This bell is formed of two hemispheres joined at the centre by a circumferential raised joining rib. It is circular in plan and sub-oval in side view. At the apex of the upper hemisphere it has a suspension loop formed from a copper-alloy strip which has been joined and soldered to the bell. The lower hemisphere has a sound slit with an integral sound hole at each end. There is a free moving corroded spheroid iron sound-pea within the bell.
This bell has traces of a silvery green patina. Otherwise, the surfaces are mostly covered with loose light green copper-alloy corrosion deposits.
Height: 28.31mm; diameter: 25.67mm. Weight: 11.21g.
Similar bells have been found in excavations in London and are dated late 13th to early 15th centuries AD (G. Egan and F. Pritchard 1991: 338-9, fig. 221). These bells, however, have suspension loops made from strips that penetrate the body of the bell rather than having been soldered to it.
Similar bells have been recorded on The Portable Antiquities Scheme database. For example, see finds: BH-9377D1; BH-B38690; LANCUM-0E54A4; PUBLIC-11D716; SF-2040A2 and SOM-29A042.
Class: Spherical
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1250
Date to: Circa AD 1450
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Height: 28.31 mm
Weight: 11.21 g
Diameter: 25.67 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 23rd March 2012
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: IOW2012-4-200
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Iron
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Isle of Wight
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egan, G. and Pritchard, F. | 1991 | Dress Accessories, c.1150-c.1450 (Medieval Finds from Excavations in London 3) (1991) | London | Stationery Office Books | 338-9, fig. 221 |
Similar objects
Find number: IOW-26BFD3
Object type: BELL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A complete post-Medieval cast copper-alloy spherical animal 'crotal' bell (1600-1800 AD).
The sub-rectangular suspension loop at the top is …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: IOW-7F5831
Object type: BELL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A complete post-Medieval cast copper-alloy spherical animal 'crotal' bell (1600-1800).
The sub-rectangular suspension loop at the top is abo…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: IOW-AB54CF
Object type: BELL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A complete post-Medieval copper-alloy animal ('crotal') bell (c. 1575-c. 1650).
This bell has an integral suspension loop with a sub-recta…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618