Handbell 1791

This is a handbell, made of silver by Leendert Jacobus Leendertsen. Though we don’t know when it was made, silver objects like this reflect highly specialized labor. Consider the techniques required: the raising of the bell itself from a flat sheet, the casting of the handle with its sinuous serpent, and the chasing that articulates the ornament. Silver is a soft material, responsive to the silversmith’s touch. Yet it demands expertise; any mistake would be costly. Objects like this remind us that even seemingly straightforward shapes can require many hours of skilled work. The bell would have been an expression of social status, a summoning device in a well-appointed home. But it also embodies the labor of its maker. By attending to this history, we appreciate the bell not just as a pretty object, but as a testament to human ingenuity and effort.