Elephant Bells (Pair)
Myanmar (Burma)
19th–early 20th century
Bronze with wood frames
14 × 12 × 5 in. (each)
These large bronze bells were used in Burma for ceremonial and working elephants, suspended from harnesses or yokes during processions, logging work, or royal and religious events. The deep, resonant tone served both a practical purpose—signaling the animal’s presence in dense jungle—and a symbolic one, announcing status, ownership, or ritual significance.
Mounted here within later wooden frames, the bells retain their heavily worn surfaces, bearing evidence of long use and exposure. Elephant bells occupy an important place in Burmese material culture, reflecting the animal’s central role in labor, kingship, and Buddhist tradition, where elephants are revered for their strength, intelligence, and spiritual symbolism.
