An elephant bell, Late Angkorian period, bronze, 12th century, Cambodia

An elephant bell.

Given by David Knight

Formally in the collection of Gilbert Beatty of Palm Beach, Tanjong Kling, Malacca, Malaysia. According to the acquisition papers in the V&A archive, Beatty (also spelt Beattie) had built up his collection in the pre-war years. In the late 1950s, when Beaty was in his late 70s, he became good friends with his neighbours the Knight family, the father of the family being based in Malaysia as a member of the British armed forces. In 1960 he gave much of his collection to one of the Knight children, David, who had developed a real interest in Cambodian and Thai art despite his young age. The objects were shipped back to Britain with the rest of the family's possessions later the same year. Between 1991 and 1993 David Knight donated or sold the collection to the V&A. Knight died in June 1993.

Bells of this scale were employed on elephants to track their movements. Examples are depicted on Angkorian period sculptures, such as those to be seen at the eastern Mebon, Angkor.

Cambodia

IS.178-1991