Cambodia
Khmer Empire (Angkor culture)

Metal (Bronze)
ca. Late 12th c. to Early 13th c.
Bell Diameter: 9 in x 9 in
Idiophones – Struck Idiophones – Bells

This bronze elephant bell from the Khmer Empire (Angkor culture), dates between ca. late 1200 to early 1300 CE.  The Khmer kingdom was a powerful and prosperous empire that flourished in northwestern Cambodia and was historically Southeast Asia’s largest contiguous empire that controlled much territory in what is now Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.  Khmer art depicting armies on the march show images of elephants carrying the king or nobility into battle.  Bells such as this hung from the elephant’s saddle or around the neck, ringing as the animal moved. 

The bell has an attachment ring on the top that is surrounded by lotus petals. This distinctive bronze bell, with a nice green patina is in the form of a stylized lotus bud.  The bell has a loose bronze pellet inside that acts as a rattle when the elephant moves.  Three prominent ridges projecting from the surface serve to keep the main body of the bell from touching the elephant’s skin and dulling its tone.