A set of 19th century bronze, iron, timber and leather dray ...

Hammer

£120

A set of 19th century bronze, iron, timber and leather dray or team bells, English

With four bells, each cast with the makers initials ‘RW’, mounted on a timber belfry, covered in hide and secured by brass studs, supported above the withers of a horse by two tall iron rods which slotted into a pair of staples mounted in the hames, the bells of different size and therefore different ring tones, height 56cm

The initials ‘R W’ may refer to Robert Wells II, Aldbourne, Wiltshire. The foundry ceased production in 1825

Dray or team bells were used by working horses, often in groups (teams) to let other road users know of their approach. For a comparable example see the British Museum Collection, London, acc. no. OA.11126

Literature: P. Bears, ‘Horse Brasses’ (1982), pp. 105-110