Rivet strap with 25 bells, small to large

This strap was made from a set of antique sleigh bells supplied by our customer. The bells, dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s, graduate evenly from a delicate #1 (1 1/8" across) bell at each end to a hefty #13 (2 3/4") bell in the center.

The lined rivet-style strap is 1 3/4" wide and 74" long from buckle tip to buckle tip. A separate billet (not shown) fastens onto the buckles, so the bell strap can be worn around the body of a horse.

The strap tapers at both ends to fit 1 1/4" buckles with hand-sewn leather keepers. Although the solid brass buckles are new, I darkened them to blend with the dark-brown leather strap and give the appearance of age.

The metal dots between each pair of bells are solid brass tubular rivets. They fasten the liner strap and bell strap together and provide a decorative accent. Tubular rivets were often used on sleigh bell straps in the late 1800s.

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.