This set of 15 "petal" bells are modern reproductions. The person who sold the bells to my client had darkened the bells and fastened them onto a worn leather strap cobbled together from parts of an old harness. This "instant antique" process made the bells and strap look old and well used. (Click "See more images" to compare the old and new.)
The owner liked how the bells sounded, but did not like the dingy look of the piece. He asked me to polish the bells and make a new strap similar to the original but nicer.
He also wanted me to add decorative lines of stitching down the long edges of the strap using medium brown thread, a color that blends with the color of the leather. I agree the stitching is an unusual detail that adds a subtle bit of charm to the finished piece.
The bells vary in size from #1 (1 1/8") bells at the ends to a #12 (2 1/2") bell in the center.
The new medium-brown bell strap is fully lined with a second strap of leather. The lining is held onto the bell strap with small brass rivets between each pair of bells -- I call this a "rivet style" strap design.
The piece is 49" long overall. The bell strap is 2" wide with 1" wide buckle and billet ends. (The billet is the end with holes for the buckle.) The buckle from the old strap was cleaned, adjusted, and reused on the new one.
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.
