Bell
ca. 1864 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Museum bought this bell from a Working Men's Exhibition in 1864. It is an early example of aluminium used for an everyday object. Aluminium's versatility contributed to the demise of the brass industry. The lightest of structural metals, it could be stamped, rolled, spun, cast, engraved and riveted. In the 1860s aluminium was treated almost as a precious metal.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Aluminium, copper-alloy, spun, cast and engraved |
| Brief description | Aluminium bell with copper alloy handle, cast and engraved, England, about 1862 |
| Physical description | Conical aluminium bell decorated with bright-cut engraving including a band of leaves around the lip, flowers and bows around the centre, and pointed triangles around the top, the waisted handle of cast copper-alloy with a central knop and small ball finial. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | The Belinda Gentle Metalware Gallery (Room 116):
BELL
Aluminium and brass, cast and engraved
England; about 1862
The Museum bought this bell from a Working Men's Exhibition in 1864. It is an early example of aluminium used for an everyday object. Aluminium's versatility contributed to the demise of the brass industry. The lightest of structural metals, it could be stamped, rolled, spun, cast, engraved and riveted. In the 1860s aluminium was treated almost as a precious metal.
Museum no. 804-1864(25/11/2004) |
| Object history | The Museum bought this bell from a Working Men's Exhibition in 1864. It is an early example of aluminium used for an everyday object. |
| Historical context | Aluminium's versatility contributed to the demise of the brass industry. The lightest of structural metals, it could be stamped, rolled, spun, cast, engraved and riveted. In the 1860s aluminium was treated almost as a precious metal. |
| Summary | The Museum bought this bell from a Working Men's Exhibition in 1864. It is an early example of aluminium used for an everyday object. Aluminium's versatility contributed to the demise of the brass industry. The lightest of structural metals, it could be stamped, rolled, spun, cast, engraved and riveted. In the 1860s aluminium was treated almost as a precious metal. |
| Bibliographic reference | Patterson, Angus, ed., "The Belinda Gentle Metalware Gallery at the V&A", Journal of the Antique Metalware Society, Volume 13, June 2005, p. 46, Fig. 6 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 804-1864 |
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| Record created | December 16, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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