Thailand
Thailand Hill People

Bronze, wood, rattan, leather
Early 20th century
(Bell) Height: 12.5 in, Width: 9 in, Depth: 4 in
Idiophones – Struck Idiophones – Bells

A Thailand elephant bronze bell mounted on a bentwood arched frame joined to a wooden base and padded at the top by deerskin. Elephants in Thailand are considered an important part of their culture. References to elephants have been found in Thai literature, national emblems, and numerous works of art. Thai royal palaces and the walls of Buddhist temples are adorned with sketches of images of the revered elephant.

The Asian elephants, large, domesticated animals, were trained to be laborers for the forestry, pulling logs from the mountain down to the river. To keep track of the elephants, bells such as this one, were put around the neck so they could be heard in the forest.