Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID # |
1970.016.014 |
Object Name |
Bell, Sleigh |
Title |
European Sleigh Bell |
Lexicon category |
7: Distribution & Transportation Artifact |
Date |
Early 20th-century? |
Artist |
Chiantel Fondeur |
Made |
Chiantel Fondeur |
Place of Origin |
France |
Description |
This is a brass or bronze sleigh bell, cast with "Chiantel Fondeur Saignelegier". Typically referred to as a "Swiss" bell. It has a number 8 painted on it's side from an old exhibit it was in. This number is not original to the piece. This bell has been placed with other bells together on a leather strap. |
Makers mark |
Cast lettering CHIANTEL / FONDEUR |
Provenance |
By "Chiantel Fondeur Siagnelegier" 1878. Indicating that Mr. Chiantel (actually Chiantello), cast bells in his foundry at Saignelegier about 1875 assisted by another bell-caster named Barinotto. Both men were Italian or Savoyard in origin at a place in France near Doubs and not in Switzerland. The best bells were made of bronze or brass and it is known that some of the bells were made of silver. They were used to a great extent in connection with horsedrawn sleighs etc. Swiss Sleigh Bells An article by Jack Jamieson mentioned that Mr. Chiantel cast bells in his foundry at Saignelegier (Switzerland). Mr. Chiantel later moved to France, where his family carried on the bell business. It is not known how these bells found their way to America but many have shown up in Canada, and a fewer number in the U.S.A.and exported to Canada. It is a bell that would be used in conjunction with a horse-drawn cutter (sleigh). The sleigh bell was used in Grey County. It was last owned by Mr. Stewart McLennan of RR4 Owen Sound (Derby Township, Grey County). His family had resided in Grey County since the 19th-century. |
Collection |
Transportation, Horses & Equipment Collection |
Material |
Brass?/Bronze?/Leather/Steel |
Found |
Derby Township (formerly), Township of Georgian Bluffs, Grey County |
Subjects |
Horses Horse teams Bells Winter Snow Travel |
Function |
A Keppel Township man, Allan S. McPhatter (b. 1900-d. 1975), wrote this: "According to law in the winter, when you were using horse-drawn vehicles of any kind, you had to have bells on the horses so you could be heard approaching. With steel-tired wagons and buggies, this was not necessary in the summer. There were several types of bells. Some were small bells and were attached to a strap and went around the horse's middle. One kind was fastened to the cutter shafts. Most of the bells used on the work teams were nice sounding. Some would have several bells on a team and would choose them so that the different tones would blend and make a pleasing sound. Even at night if you couldn't see a sleigh or cutter approaching, you knew who it was by the sound of the bells." |