Religious Bell with Engraving

Click any image to enlarge

A
Posted by Anonymous
18 years ago
AI Appraisal
💬 9 Comments 🗣️ Discuss with Community
Description

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On one side is raised engraving with "1878" on top and "SAICNELECIER" under the date and crosses engraved on each side of it. On the other side is raised engraving with "CHIANTEL" on the top and "FONDEUR" under that. The ringer is a separate piece instead of being attached.

I am extremely interested in the value of this item and in the 1786 bell I will be posting later.
Category General Antiques and Collectibles
Medium Bronze or Iron
Distinguishing marks Date and engraving on both sides of bell
Condition Excellent
Size and dimensions of this item Approximately 4 inches tall and 4 inches in diameter
Date Period 1878
Weight 12 oz
History Found in my "junk" box that I found in trash in my childhood days.
eBay Auction Link
💎 Have another item? Upload photos for a free appraisal →
⚠️ You have 1 free appraisal left today Upgrade for 15-30/day →
Want more from your appraisals?

Upgrade for PDF reports, more daily appraisals, and ad-free experience.

View Plans →

Submitted by GaryTS77

<pre><img style="width: 225px; height: 205px" src="/files/u1356/Bell-1878_chiantel_fonduer.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="205" align="left" /><img style="width: 232px; height: 206px" src="/files/u1356/Bell-1878.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="206" align="right" /></pre>

Submitted by 250chief

Sorry to disappoint. But without iron clad proof of history, this bell is only worth what you are willing to pay. It is a much reproduced and very common swiss animal bell. The foundry marks etc. are correct, but the molds were sold when it closed down and the bells are still being made today from them. There is a web site (I don't have it on me right now) where you can go and order brand new ones, exactly the same, in a variety of sizes right now. It has a very interesting history, worth looking at, but the bell itself has little value with out absolute proof of age. I have 2 of them myself. Sorry. Garry

I just bought one at an auction here in Norway and paid 18 pounds. kurt Hansen

I was posting a few days ago on reproductions made with slip molds, and then there is the ability with cast moldinging and EDM (electrical discharge machining) tooling to create pieces from a 3D rendering of an object such as a cast iron bank, car, etc.. When you see molds or plates transfered to one Co. to another if the piece is genuinely old, as an example McCoy pottery then we date with these changes. In the example of Audubon the plates were "rescued" from a scrap yard. But beyond original plates and molds being in existence, the reproduction of "old looking items" or dated pieces is increasingly common. Often an old reproduction can mislead some to dating an object, and then there is reproductions of such poor quality that the pieces look distressed or aged. And finally if the piece came from the set of a movie such as "gone with the wind", and the provenance supports that assertion, old bells can command a high price. But the generalization that without provenance or careful examination that these items are tricky is certainly true. I see many people makke assertions about pieces as if reproductions did not exist.

Submitted by Dee 1961

I have seen some market for larger bells with the original Yoke. I have seen some market for a ship bell if the provenance warranted it. These are nice items that you have. Not an item that will set a new bidding record at an auction, but nice all the same. If you found them, they were a nice find.

Submitted by jasonla

The show dirty jobs was showing how some of these bells were made by a company who made them for a lot of churches and has been around nearly 100 years. It's really amazing to see how their made and how long they last in the church of god our church just had new bells installed and they ring each hour

Submitted by Anonymous

My dad's cousin mentioned he had an old bell he had been given and wanted information on it, so he brought it to me (internet capabilities). This is the identical bell, except this particular bell has a crack similar to the Liberty Bell. here is what I found, alongside of your search, the spelling is SAIGNELEGIER, (G's not C's). Saignelegier is a small town in NE Switzerland. Chiantel is the foundry. value, unknown except for the value of brass.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer

This appraisal is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute a certified, licensed, or formal appraisal.

Appraisal results are generated using automated systems, including artificial intelligence, and are based solely on the information and images submitted by the user, along with publicly available data. As such, results may contain inaccuracies, omissions, or errors.

InstAppraisal does not authenticate items. No determination of authenticity, origin, materials, maker, or age should be considered verified. Many items—particularly luxury goods, watches, jewelry, coins, art, and designer products—are frequently counterfeited and may closely resemble genuine examples. Authenticity cannot be confirmed from images alone.

Any statements regarding authenticity are expressions of opinion only and should not be relied upon as fact. Independent professional authentication is strongly recommended before any purchase, sale, or valuation decision.

Appraisal values are estimates only and may vary significantly based on condition, provenance, market demand, and additional information not available at the time of review.

Appraisals must not be relied upon for insurance, legal, tax, estate, or financial purposes without independent professional verification.

InstAppraisal disclaims all liability for any losses, damages, or disputes arising from reliance on this appraisal, including transactions conducted based on the information provided.

By using this service, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risk associated with reliance on appraisal results.

📸 Quick Scan
Garage-Sale Mode Fast appraisals on the go
💎 Free Online Appraisal – Upload Photos →
How our AI appraisals work