We call these “cowbells” but they been used on just about every free-roaming animal humans ever domesticated: pigs, goats, llamas, camels, horses, even geese! They’ve been around long enough to lend the English language the esoteric term “bellwether” (meaning ‘trend setter’), which comes from the 15th century Middle English “belle-weder” referring to the neutered ram that leads the flock. Shepherds could track their charges location by the loud, clanging bell around that ‘trendsetting’ lead sheep’s neck. Cowbells are so universally useful that ancient ones have been dug up out of Roman ruins and found on every continent except Antarctica.
Although these decorative vintage bells came from different QBO estate sales, they share a common point of origin: Switzerland! Switzerland is famous for many things: the Alps, political neutrality during wartime, precision timepieces, private Swiss Bank Accounts where safe deposit boxes secrete who-knows-what, deposited by who-knows-who. And of course milk chocolate and Swiss cheese, both Swiss inventions made with the milk of the Schweizer Braunvieh, AKA the Swiss Brown Cow, one of the world’s oldest domesticated cattle breeds. Used for dairy, meat and draft work, there are other closely-related cattle breeds grazing the Alpine foothills of Switzerland’s neighbors and our American dairy cow the Brown Swiss is of course also a direct descendant. And yes, many Swiss cows still wear cowbells, but the bells are so loud (up to 113 decibels) that a 2015 study found the incessant noise could unnecessarily stress the gentle bovines, so some animal rights activists have called for a cowbell ban.
Our first vintage cowbell features molded flowers and the coat of arms of Switzerland. Heavy cast brass with a sturdy steel loop, this bell is probably too small for a full-grown cow, but could easily have been worn by a calf, sheep or goat.
The next bell is made of sheet steel, stamped size “1” by the Firmann company, whose logo features a nimble ibex or Alpine mountain goat. The Swiss company has been hand-making a wide array of Treichels (cowbells) and related accessories such as bell straps, spare clappers, and cowbell-themed key chains since 1730. Like the first bell, this one could easily have been a real operational livestock ‘tracker’.
The third bell is styled after real cowbells but was made for the tourist trade. Rolled and soldered brass, its felt and ribbon strap is an imitation of the classic Senn saddleries-produced black leather Appenzell straps which feature colorful thread fringing and stamped brass ornaments. The white flower is an Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum), which grows throughout the Alps and is the unofficial Swiss national flower as it is seen as a symbol of courage and love.
Our last large copper-tinted steel cowbell (currently at our downtown boutique) is a modern one originally sold by Harbor Freight, which claims it is appropriate for both your livestock and your garage band. Because yes, cowbells are also used as musical instruments – not for melodic ringing but as a percussion instrument like a tambourine or a drum. This one does have an internal clapper, but most cowbells used by professional musicians usually don’t and are instead paired with a separate wooden beater. Which brings us to serious, Academy Award-winning actor Christopher Walken, who after casually appearing in a cowbell-themed Saturday Night Live comedy sketch 25 years ago is still dogged today by fans yelling “More cowbell!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVsQLlk-T0s
Tuesday Treasures was started by our staff member, Jeanne Lusignan. Each week she will be featuring items that have been found at our estate sales. If you would like to submit a treasure for Jeanne to feature in a future installment of “Tuesday’s Treasures”, please follow the button below and send us an email! Please attach a few photos of your treasure in a beautiful setting as well as any details you have about your item such as manufacturer, use, age, region of origin. If you don’t know about the piece, that’s okay! We still might be able to research it for you! Don’t forget to tell us what makes this item such a treasure to you!