Laced strap with 21 bells in two styles

The owner inherited two kinds of sleigh bells from her grandmother and wanted them all on one strap. I was a little doubtful at first, but it's clear the customer really was right. The result is lovely.

The strap showcases fifteen #2 (1 1/4") bells, five #6 (1 3/4") bells, and one #11 (2 3/8") bell. The #2 bells are "band" bells with a rivet base. The larger bells in the middle are classic "petal" bells with a shank base. All of the bells date to the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The medium brown strap is 1 1/2" wide overall and about 5 1/2 feet long. The vintage brass-and-steel buckle and its leather keeper are stitched in place. I accented the large keeper with a bit of decorative stamping.

Each end of the narrow bell strap is securely stitched to the wider lining strap using a traditional stitching pattern.

This particular item is a custom, one-of-a-kind project made for a past client. Items in this Custom Projects section are for information only; they are not available for regular sale.