A Collection of Six 17th & 18th Century Temple Shrine Bells from Nepal

These 6 bronze shrine bells date from the 17th and 18th century.  They were sourced about 40 years ago in Kathmandu for my own private collection, and are particularly fine examples.  Antique shrine bells like this are very hard to find nowadays, and only come onto the market when a temple or shrine has been destroyed by earthquake, fallen into disrepair, or dismantled to make way for new infrastructure.  

Most shrine bells of this type and size are threaded in groups along a horizontal brass bar situated above a shrine within a Buddhist or Hindu temple compound, for devotees to brush their fingers along to announce their presence to the Gods.  Occasionally they are suspended individually inside the shrine (the bells, not the devotees).

These bells have been individually hand cast in a bronze alloy using the lost wax method and therefore each one is unique.  They are all in excellent condition, ring nicely, and have an attractive aged patina.

When you buy, handle, and ring one of these antique bells you can be confident that it is a genuine and revered holy instrument that has played an important part in countless sacred rituals and ceremonies for 100 years or more. Each bell is a fascinating and beautiful object in its own right, with the look and feel of antiquity…but perhaps more importantly, when it is rung one can sense the spiritual energy, power and purpose with which it is imbued, and the present ineffably connects to the past.