Handbell thumbnail 1
Handbell thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 64, The Wolfson Gallery

Handbell

Bell
ca. 1491-1496 (made)
Artist/Maker
Alberghetti, Giovanni (maker)
Place of origin
Italy (made)
Ferrara (town) (made)

A hand bell would have been used to summon servants. This one, signed with the dialect name of Giovanni Alberghetti was probably made when the foundry was working for Duke Ercol d'Este in Ferrara. A similar bell in Washington, also signed by Giovanni, shows the portrait and personal devices of Ludovico Sforza, 'Il Moro', who married Ercole's daughter Beatrice in 1491. The Washington bell may have been made to commemorate the marriage and this bell was probably made about the same time.


Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Sculpture
Object type
Bell
TitleHandbell
Materials and techniques
Bell-metal
Bell Metal
Brief description
Bell, ca. 1491-6, Alberghetti, northern Italy
Physical description
Hand bell with peacocks and vases, bell-metal
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.5cm
  • Diameter: 9.2cm
  • Weight: 0.48kg
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Marks and inscriptions
OPUS ZANINI ALBERGETI
Translation
The work of Zanini Albergeti
Gallery label
HAND BELL with peacocks and vases About 1491-6 Giovanni Alberghetti (active 1484-1509) A hand bell would have been used to summon servants. This one, signed with the dialect name of Giovanni Alberghetti, was probably made when the foundry was working for Duke Ercole d'Este in Ferrara. Later Giovanni worked for the Gonzaga court in Mantua, where Ercole's daughter, Isabella, was marquise. She too was a keen collector of bronzes, both modern and antique. Northern Italy, probably Ferrara Bell-metal Inscribed in Latin, 'The work of Zanini Albergeti' Museum no. 335-1886(2008)
Summary
A hand bell would have been used to summon servants. This one, signed with the dialect name of Giovanni Alberghetti was probably made when the foundry was working for Duke Ercol d'Este in Ferrara. A similar bell in Washington, also signed by Giovanni, shows the portrait and personal devices of Ludovico Sforza, 'Il Moro', who married Ercole's daughter Beatrice in 1491. The Washington bell may have been made to commemorate the marriage and this bell was probably made about the same time.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1886. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1887. pp.40
  • Motture, Peta. Bells & Mortars. Catalogue of Italian Bronzes in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2001. pp. 99-100. cat. no. 17
  • Pope-Hennessey, John. Complete Catalogue of the Samuel H.Kress Collection. Renaissance Bronzes. London. 1965. pp. 125, no. 462
  • Radcliffe, Anthony, Baker, Malcolm and Maek- Gérard. The Thyseen- Bornemisza Collection. Renaissance and later sculpture with works of art in bronze. London. 1992. pp. 225
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
335-1886

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Record createdJuly 4, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O158403/handbell-bell-alberghetti-giovanni/
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