Rare Antique Brass Bell, maybe from Germany

By Lisanashville, 13 May, 2015
Description
  • This bell was given to my mother in the mid 1960's, My mother was born in 1958 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 
  • A very much older lady  late 80's or 90's was the person who gave my mother this bell.
  • The lady said it was given to her by her father, when she was a little girl, back in Germany.
  • The lady moved to the usa from germany, unknown what year, so the lady was born in Germany.
  • The bells estimated weight i would say 1 pound 3/4-2 1/2 pounds.
  • Brass not sure what percentage, im thinking over 70% because bell is thick and heavy for the size.
  • Heighth 3 1/4 in  circumference I believe 9.62..? Radius 1.5 in honestly unsure .
  • Enscribed on two sides I can't make it out clear enough, It seems to read  12 J. Hann or maybe just Hann.
  • opposite side seems more like symbols like a sideways p . Patsiv , the t looks more like an arrow   ^.
  • also at the bottom external side of bell i believe 3 numbers appear upside down 184.
  • This bell was in my house my whole entire child hood and as an adult, my mother gave the bell to me.
Category
Other
Medium
BRASS
Distinguishing marks
Unsure. Upside down numbers, 184. 12 J. HANN OR MAYBE HANN? Also patsiv enscribed but unsure as well because some letters look like Symbols.
Condition
Good
Size and dimensions of this item
Ht. 3 1/4 inches radius 1.5 inches
Date Period
Not sure I would say 1800s
Weight
Est 1 1/4- 2 1/2 pounds
History
A women born in the 1800s moved from germany to new orleans, louisiana, not sure what year the lady arrived in the usa. The lady was a neighbor of my mothers parents and children. This lady told my mom that her father gave this to her as a child and she was giving it to my mother whom was a child in the mid 1960s, my mother was born in 1958. When I became an adult my mother gave it to me. Never have I seen a bell similar to this particular bell.
Price Paid (If known)
No price. Was given to my mother as a young child and she then gifted the bell to me as a young adult.
For Sale?
No
Photos

Uniquities

10 years 1 month ago

Might I suggest taking some paper of some kind and a pencil (charcoal pencil) and do a rubbing all over the bell. You may be able to read the information alot easier.

No votes yet

Thanks for the suggestion, I have taken paper and pencil, not charcoal.  I will try that. It is hard to make out  some things seem like letters and others seem like symbols. Also some engravings are tiny hyphen like dashes, making it difficult to read and differentiate between those things.

 

No votes yet

Was the woman in her 80s or 90s when she gave the bell to your mother? How old was your mother at the time?

You said it was given to your mother by this woman in mid 60s. Do you know what year? Do you know the woman's name?

I took the year 1965, and subracted 85 to get 1880. I figure that growing up the woman was poor, and her father gave her this gift when she was around 5-10 years old. An age when a gift to a poor girl from her father would mean quite alot, and would create a lasting impression, helping her to hold onto it for such a long time.

The bell at least would have to be at least from the mid to late 1800s, judging by your clues. It would have been bought new at the time the woman received it from her father.

 

Maybe you can take a picture of the rubbings you make off the bell.

Any other information you can provide would be very helpful.

I love mysteries like this, my mind works like Sherlock Holmes.

No votes yet