Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card Z 11776[.1-3]: 'Three bells for boy's waist, wrought brass.'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Auction / Sale)
Purchased using money from Prof. A.A. Bevan’s subscription to the Museum’s Accessions Fund.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Related Documents)
See E 1910.118 and E 1913.3 records for further details about the Thomas Collection from Nigeria.

Event Date 7/5/2001
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Three brass bells tied together with twine (Z 11776.1-3). The Northcote Thomas label reads: ‘Three toy bells’. (1) The smallest bell is very well made, with multiple flattish sides. It is decorated with linear incisions around the top of the bell. The clapper consists of a small cowrie shell. (2) Plate shaped bell without a clapper. The bell consists of one fully executed metal side while the other side is only half created, which means the bell is not completely round. It was once profusely decorated but the decorations have largely worn away now. It has a round handle with circular lines incised below. The brass bell body is decorated with lines. 3) This is the largest brass bell of the three. It is similar to Z 11777 in design. The top and edge of the bell are decorated with diagonal lines but the body is smooth. The bell has no clapper and a small handle. Information provided by Dr Ohioma Pogoson, Honorary Curator of the Museum of the Institute for African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. January 2013.





Event Date 1/2013
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Field collection)
Collected by Northcote W. Thomas in Edo State, Agbede town. The inhabitants belong to the Edo ethnic group, and also identify themselves further as Aviele people. The language they speak is referred to as Etsako. See Blench, R. M., 1995. The Work of N.W. Thomas as Government Anthropologist in Nigeria. The Nigerian Field, 60, pp.29.

Event Date 12/2/2013
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Small globular pellet bell with loop handle made of cast copper alloy. Decorated with ridges and grooves. One side of the bell is largely missing and there is no pellet present.
Event Date 5/9/2018
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Amendments / updates)
Record updated as part of the Museum Affordances project 2018-2020

Event Date 5/9/2018
Author: Katrina Dring