BASIC INFORMATION

  • Object Name: Cast Bronze Crotal Bell (Horse / Equestrian Bell)
  • Country of Origin: Thailand (Siam)
  • Production Style/Center: Ayutthaya Kingdom Period Metalwork
  • Historical Period: Ayutthaya Period
  • Date: 16th – 18th Century CE

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

  • Form: A beautifully spherical, horse-sized crotal bell featuring a well-proportioned, un-bent body. The lower hemisphere is designed with a clean sound slit, and the top is crowned by a sturdy, integrated double-ridged suspension loop for attachment to equestrian harness gear. Internally preserves its original metal clapper ball.
  • Material: High-quality cast bronze alloy.
  • Decoration & Style: Features intricate, fine parallel line decorations wrapping vertically around both hemispheres. The design is split evenly by a raised, thick horizontal structural girdle band tracing the center circumference.
  • Patina: Displays a deep, dark charcoal-black to dark chocolate core patina with subtle bronze highlights appearing along the raised linear decorations.

DIMENSIONS

  • Total Length (including loop): 41 mm

CONDITION REPORT

  • Overall Condition: Very Good / Fully Functional (Antique State)
  • Structural Details: Exceptionally sound structural condition with absolutely no cracks, modern breaks, or body warping.
  • Acoustics: Mechanics are perfectly preserved; the inner clapper remains free-moving and the bell rings with a clear, beautiful, and resonant tone.
  • Wear & Patina Notes: Exhibits minor historic cleaning wear where previous improper cleaning slightly altered the outermost layer of oxidation, but it retains a highly stable and attractive deep black antique surface.

PROVENANCE & CONTEXT

  • Historical Context: Cast during the prosperous Ayutthaya kingdom, bronze bells of this scale were crucial components of equestrian and trade caravan culture. Attached to horses, oxen, or pack animals, they served both a utilitarian safety purpose along dense jungle trails and a decorative status role for regional traders. The precise, symmetrical casting and decorative linework reflect the high standard of Ayutthaya's regional metallurgy workshops, which specialized in durable, high-resonance bronze alloys.