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Stearns staff members have identified groups of related items that are particularly interesting. Use any of the links below to view a gallery.
- Stearns Tour
- The York Brass Collection
- Instruments as Functional Objects
- Bells - Ancient to Modern
- The Venerable Lake of Honey
- Fantastic Forgeries
Found 66 result(s)
 | Stearns #0082 | Africa Upper Congo or Zaire | This Double Bell is crafted from wood with rod clappers. (25.5cm length) Somewhat similar to Stearns #0084. |
 | Stearns #0083 | Africa Upper Congo or Zaire | This egg-shaped Bell is made of wood. |
 | Stearns #0084 | Africa Bayombe Nation, Zaire | Somewhat similar to Stearns #0082, this Wooden Bell has three wooden clappers. |
 | Stearns #0085 | Africa West Central Africa | This Bell is a section of a nut and has two wooden clappers. |
 | Stearns #0086 | Middle East Ancient Egypt | This ancient Eygptian Bell is 5.5 cm long and is made of terra cotta. (Stearns #0087, #0088, #0089, & #0091 are made of bronze.) |
 | Stearns #0087 | Middle East Ancient Egypt | This ancient Egyptian Bell is made of bronze. Note: bell is damaged. (Stearns #0086 is made of terra cotta.) |
 | Stearns #0088 | Middle East Ancient Egypt | This ancient Egyptian Bell is made of bronze. (Stearns #0086 is made of terra cotta.) |
 | Stearns #0089 | Middle East Ancient Egypt | This ancient Egyptian Bell is made of bronze. (Stearns #0086 is made of terra cotta.) |
 | Stearns #0091 | Middle East Ancient Egypt | This ancient Egyptian Bell is made of bronze. (Stearns #0086 is made of terra cotta.) |
 | Stearns #0092 | Middle East Ancient Egypt | This ancient Egyptian Bell is made of bronze. (Stearns #0086 is made of terra cotta.) |
 | Stearns #0093 | Middle East Ancient Egypt | This ancient Egyptian Bell is made of bronze. (Stearns #0086 is made of terra cotta.) |
 | Stearns #0094 | Europe Etruria, Ancient Italy | This bronze Bell is 5 cm high and 3.5 cm wide. Similar to Stearns #0090. |
 | Stearns #0095 | Middle East Ancient Egypt | This ancient Egyptian Bell is made of bronze. (Stearns #0086 is made of terra cotta.) |
 | Stearns #0096 | Middle East Ancient Egypt | This ancient Egyptian Bell is made of bronze. (Stearns #0086 is made of terra cotta.) |
 | Stearns #0099 | Africa Liberia | This Bell is made of iron and measures 9 cm in height. |
 | Stearns #0101 | North America Ngoni, Malawi | This iron Bell measures 5.2 cm in height. |
 | Herdenglocken, herd bell, clapper bells Stearns #0102 | Europe Sparta, Greece | This brass Bell measures 10 cm in height. |
 | clapper bell Stearns #0103 | Europe Switzerland? | These Cowbells are made of hammered brass sheets that have been bent and soldered into quadrilateral forms. |
 | clapper bell Stearns #0104 | Europe Switzerland? | These Cowbells are made of hammered brass sheets that have been bent and soldered into quadrilateral forms. |
 | clapper bell Stearns #0105 | Europe Switzerland? | These Cowbells are made of hammered brass sheets that have been bent and soldered into quadrilateral forms. |
 | clapper bell Stearns #0106 | Europe Switzerland? | These Cowbells are made of hammered brass sheets that have been bent and soldered into quadrilateral forms. |
 | clapper bell Stearns #0107 | Europe Switzerland? | These Cowbells are made of hammered brass sheets that have been bent and soldered into quadrilateral forms. |
 | clapper bells, pellet bells Stearns #0108 | Europe France? | These three metal Bells are mounted on an oak yoke with a brass handle. The bells produce the following pitches: E flat, F, and G. The bell diameters are 12 cm, 12.1 cm, and 12.5 cm. |
 | clapper bells, pellet bells Stearns #0110 | Europe Florence, Italy | This instrument comes to the Stearns Collection from a highly questionable source--Leopoldo Franciolini. Many Franciolini instruments are forgeries or interesting hybrids of original instruments and scrap wood. In this case, we have twelve brass Pellet Bells of various sizes on a red (painted) wooden oval holder with handle (damaged). |
 | chung, temple bell Stearns #0111 | Southeast Asia Vietnam (Anam) | This bronze Bell with a sculpted handle stands 40 cm tall with a 22.2 cm base. |
 | pellet bells Stearns #0113 | Europe Italy or France? | Made of twelve to seventeen nickel-plated bronze Pellet Bells mounted on eleven black leather straps, this and Stearns #0122 combine to create a chromatic series from c'' to c'''. The end of each strap has a decorative bell (without clapper). The boxwood beater has one side leather-covered side and a cane handle. |
 | Stearns #0114 | India India (Delhi) | This Indian Bell stands 16.5 cm high and is made of brass. While the 1921 Stearns Catalogue reports that these would have been hung on the trappings of sacred elephants at Delhi, it is more likely that this is a temple bell. The iron clapper is attached to the bell with a hook. The bell is decorated with incised lines around the handle and raised top. The bottom of the bell has red writing on it. |
 | mosque's bell Stearns #0115 | Middle East Iran (Persia) | This Mosque Bell is believed to come from a mosque in present-day Iran. This bell is used in the zur xane (house of strength) and is struck by the drummer to mark the end of each series of exercises. Its Persian name, Zang-i-jami, means "bell of the mosque." The term "jami" refers to a large mosque as opposed to a small place of prayer, or "masjid." See Stearns #0119. |
 | church bell, Communion bell Stearns #0116 | Europe Germany? | This cup-shaped iron holder conceals three bronze bells with clappers. |
 | wind-bell Stearns #0117 | Asia Japan | This delicate Wind Bell measures 7.5 cm at its base. From the clapper hang three streamers (44cm) consisting of small brass plates and discs that terminate with small bells in the shape of a flower calyx. The Furin are suspended from the eaves of temples and other buildings. The feng-ling (China) and pang-kiang (Korea) are variants. See Stearns #0121. |
 | church bell, Communion bell Stearns #0118 | Europe Germany? | Sometimes called a Sanctus Bell, this medieval-era bell likely comes from Germany. It has intricate cast vinestem decoration, symbols, and names of the four evangelists: MATHEUS, JOHANNES, LUCAS, MARCUS. Small bells such as this one were hung in medieval churches and were rung at three important points during the Catholic Mass. |
 | mosque's bell Stearns #0119 | Middle East Iran (Persia) | This Mosque Bell is believed to come from a mosque in present-day Iran. This bell is used in the zur xane (house of strength) and is struck by the drummer to mark the end of each series of exercises. Its Persian name, Zang-i-jami, means "bell of the mosque." The term "jami" refers to a large mosque as opposed to a small place of prayer, or "masjid." This is an iron replica of Stearns #0115. |
 | tsuri-gane, bonsho, kane, temple bell Stearns #0120 | Asia Japan | This decorated bronze Bell stands 20.3 cm tall and is 12.3 cm in diameter at its base. |
 | wind-bell Stearns #0121 | Asia Japan | This piece is similar to Stearns #0117, however, these streamers terminate with globular bells. The Furin are suspended from the eaves of temples and other buildings. The feng-ling (China) and pang-kiang (Korea) are variants. |
 | Stearns #0126 | Europe Italy? | Hanging 11.7 cm including its leather cord, this semi-conical brass Bell features a rough surface punctuated by smooth flat decorative bands. |
 | clapper bell Stearns #0127 | Europe Italy? | This Cowbell is made from hammered brass sheets that have been riveted together in a quadrilateral shape; stands 12.9 cm high. |
 | drilbu, temple hand bell Stearns #0129 | Asia China (Tibet) | This Tibetan temple Hand Bell is made of bronze (cracked). An etched scene dipicts a god with scroll riding on a large fish. The brass handle--not thought to be original to the bell--represents the thunder bolt, dorje. |
 | Stearns #0130 | Africa Nigeria (Benin) | This decorated Square Bell is made of cast bronze with decorative lines. An inner bell is attached to the larger bell with a metal wire at its top. |
 | Stearns #0133 | Asia China | From the 1921 Stearns Catalogue: This bronze Bell is 10.5 cm in height; its form resembles that of the ancient hiuen-chung (China). |
 | Stearns #0134 | Southeast Asia Burma | This Burmese bronze Bell features sets of engraved rings encircling its exterior. The metal clapper is suspended by a chain. |
 | Stearns #0135 | Southeast Asia Burma | Standing 21.8 cm high, this brass alloy Bell with flared base features bands of engraved rings on the bell's exterior. The crown of the bell is surrounded by bas relief petals of elliptical shape. The top of the bell takes the form of an arch comprised of two sculpted lions standing back-to-back (approximately 6.5 cm high). An interlocking handle that is attached with a metal peg is threaded through this arch and consists of two dragons joined at their tails. |
 | Stearns #0136 | Middle East Iran (Persia) | This bronze donkey Bell has a second inner bell that serves as a clapper. |
 | ghunghuru, ghungar, ghungur, ghunur, ghunghru Stearns #0139 | India India | These fifteen small brass Bells hang from a cord and function as cow bells. |
 | chime, kagura-sudsu Stearns #0142 | Asia Japan | Kagura is the Japanese word for Shinto music. This hand-held Bell tree is made up of thirteen brass globular bells hanging from metal rings which are fastened to a handle. It is used in Shinto ceremonies. |
 | Stearns #0143 | Europe Italy? | This brass Bell features three decoratively cast brass sections with threaded joints and handle. The bell section contains a reservoir with perforated top for sand. The midsection has a compartment that contains writing quills. |
 | temple hand bell, e-sudsu. Stearns #0144 | Asia Japan | This bronze Bell with incised decoration is 17.5 cm in length. |
 | Stearns #0164 | Europe Italy? | This animal Bell is 4.5 cm in diameter and is made of decoratively cast brass. Similar to Stearns #0166. |
 | Stearns #0166 | Europe Italy? | This animal Bell is 5.5 cm in diameter and made of nickel-plated brass. Similar to Stearns #0166. |
 | pellet bell Stearns #0170 | Middle East Egypt | Similar to a sleigh bell, this brass goat Bell is 7 cm in diameter. |
 | harness bells, carillons Stearns #0172 | Europe Italy? | These three Harness Bells (pellet bells) are nickel-plated brass (5.6 cm) that have been attached to a nickel-plated metal holder with three spokes. It has a leather strap with metal buckle. This is similar to Stearns #0176. |
 | sistrum Stearns #0173 | Europe France or Germany? | This Bell Tree is made of two rows of cup-shaped bells of different pitch. It has thirteen diatonic (one missing) bells and eleven chromatic bells (b flat -b'' flat) that are suspended on wooden rods with brass fittings. A light metal beater (missing) is passed over the edges of the bells to produce a glissando effect. |
 | Stearns #0174 | Europe Italy? | These two nickel-plated brass Bells of slightly different diameter have been pinned mouth-to-mouth. The smaller gong is 7.5 cm and the larger is 7.8 cm in diameter. The handle and mount are nickel-plated. |
 | harness bells, carillons Stearns #0176 | Europe Italy? | These Harness Bells utilize four smaller nickel-plated brass pellet bells that surround a central pair of nickel-plated bells that have been pinned mouth-to-mouth. There are two clappers. The nickel-plated metal holder has four spokes with a threaded mount at the base. This is similar to Stearns #0172. |
 | chimes Stearns #0180 | Asia Japan | From the 1921 Stearns Catalogue: Three bronze ring-like Bells, or gongs, of bronze are strung upon a wire that has been bent into a circle. The wire is then fastened to a handle (missing). Each bell is made of two sections that have been joined at the inner edges while leaving the outer edges resting slightly apart. Which of the names given is applicable rests upon one's definition of bell and gong. Very similar in form to Stearns #0055. |
 | church bell, Communion bell Stearns #0181 | Europe Germany | Each arm of this brass frame--which takes the form of a Greek cross--suspends a shallow, gong-shaped brass bell. It has four small brass crucifix decorations. It would have been rung three times at the Sanctus, once when the celebrant places his hands over the chalice of wine, and three times at the Domine nonsum dignus. |
 | Stearns #0183 | Europe Rome, Italy | This metal Bell is mounted on a walnut box resonator; it measures 9.3 cm in height and is pitched at a'. |
 | Stearns #0184 | Middle East Egypt | This brass Chime features four globular bells mounted on a metal handle. The bells are 9.5 cm in diameter. |
 | clochette, sonette, Tischglocke, Handglocke, campanello a mano Stearns #0185 | Europe Bradford, England | This is a set of eighteen bronze hand bells with brass clappers and mounts. The compass of the set is the diatonic scale of B flat major from f to d'', with b natural, b natural', and f sharp' interpolated; b and e' are duplicated. The leather handles are stamped with pitches. Marked with, "J. SHAW SON & CO. / LEEDS ROAD / BRADFORD". |
 | bell frame Stearns #0254 | Middle East Egypt | This formidable structure stands 68.5 cm tall and is placed vertically on the back of a camel during public processions, especially in marriage trains. The upright, rectangular frame of turned posts has ornamental scrollwork at its top and is inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The front is covered with an sheet iron fastened with large, flat-headed iron nails. Twenty-four brass bells having a flattened conical form are hung from the iron sheet. |
 | Stearns #0255 | Middle East Egypt | This copper Camel Bell measures 15.5 cm in height and 6.8 cm in diameter (base). |
 | jingling Johnny, Chinese pavilion, chapeau chinois, pavillon chinois, Schellenbaum, jingling johnnie Stearns #0256 | Europe Italy | This 47 cm steel rod--set in a black wooden handle and decorated with a brass ball near the top--carries a brass crescent surmounted by a bell-shaped ornament. Four very small pellet bells hang from the crescent and four additional pellet bells hang (one missing) from the larger bell-shaped ornament. Also attached are two "horsetails". See Stearns #0257 & #0259. |
 | jingling Johnny, Chinese pavilion, chapeau chinois, pavillon chinois, Schellenbaum, jingling johnnie Stearns #0257 | Europe Florence, Italy | This instrument comes to the Stearns Collection from a highly questionable source--Leopoldo Franciolini. Many Franciolini instruments are forgeries or interesting hybrids of original instruments and scrap wood. In this case, a wooden handle carries a brass rod on which are loosely fastened--so as to turn freely--a brass crescent, a piece of sheet brass in the form of a lyre, and an inverted scalloped cone of the same metal. The cone has eight small pellet bells and eight small clapper bells (three missing). The lyre has two pellet bells (one missing). The large crescent has eight pellet bells (one missing) and ten pellet clapper bells (one missing). Two "horsetails" are also attached. The cone, by its resemblance to a Chinese hat, is responsible for the French designation. |
 | jingling Johnny, Chinese pavilion, chapeau chinois, pavillon chinois, Schellenbaum, jingling johnnie Stearns #0259 | Europe Germany | Similar to Stearns #0256 and #0259, this 40.3 cm (extant) long instrument is missing its central pole. The ornamental headpiece has a decorative brass ball and crescent with four small clapper bells. A bell-shaped ornament has four small clapper bells and two "horsetails" that are suspended from the brass armature. |
 | clapper bell Stearns #0260 | Europe Switzerland | The heart-shaped body of this Cowbell is fashioned from thin bronze, and is supplied with an iron tongue. Two long iron buckles serve to adjust the broad leather strap about the neck of the animal. The 1921 Stearns Catalogue claims that, "This type of bell is used on festival occasions to designate the finest animal of the herd. The leather strap is then profusely decorated with flowers. When the herds come from the Alps to the valley, the leader always bears the finest-toned bell." |
 | clochette, sonette, Tischglocke, Handglocke, campanello a mano, clapper bells Stearns #1778 | Europe Bradford, England | These Hand Bells consist of a chromatic set of thirty-seven bells. |
| clochette, sonette, Tischglocke, Handglocke, campanello a mano Stearns #2111 | This is a set of thirteen hand bells. |