Accession number
HCA 623
Date made
12th century AD
Materials
Metal; Copper Alloy; Bronze
Collection
Dimensions (cm)
Archival information
File of material relating to a bronze sanctus bell. Includes photocopy of object description sheet which includes sketch of object (date unspecified); transcription of text of label which described object in foundation building display (c. 1996); photocopy of extract from exhibition catalogue (c. 1959), 'Romanesque Art c. 1050-1200 from collections in Great Britain and Éire' hosted by the city of Manchester Art Gallery. Present object exhibited and description of it and provenance and attribution given; photocopy of extract from 'Apollo' (c. January 2001) which includes image of bell and notes that Doctor Philip Nelson was a former owner. This is from a paper by Pauline Rushton entitled 'A Liverpool collector: Dr. Philip Nelson (1872-1953)'; photocopies of letters relating to the bell when it was in Nelsons possession. Original documents probably held by Liverpool Museum. Includes photocopy of letter (15 November 1931) from H.B. Walters, Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, to Nelson, informing him that he thinks the bell is not English and that he thinks it is not as early as the twelfth century. Recommends second opinion; photocopy of further letter (12 November 1931) from Walters to Nelson which states he thinks the bell is foreign 'based both on its shape and on the treatment a jour.' Writes that he knows of the Rheims bell and thinks it a modern copy. Also, that Nelson is quite right in comparing the leaf-ornament on his bell to twelfth-century patterns in stained glass; photocopy of letter (13 November 1931) from A.J. Koop, Victoria and Albert Museum, to Nelson, confirming opinion that bell dates from the late twelfth century; photocopy of letter (14 November 1931) from Alec B. Tonnochy, Department of British and Medieval Antiquities, British Museum, to Nelson. Writes that he has not been able to find any parallels with the bell although a twelfth-century dating seems plausible. With regard to attribution, writes that the Rhine-Meuse area might be as likely as England; photocopy of letter (20 November 1932) from W.J. Andrew, The Old House, Michelmarch, near Romsey, Hampshire, to Nelson. Thinks bell might date from the eleventh century. Wonders when cast bells came in to supersede the riveted type. States that at first the art looks Byzantine but now thinks it might be Ireland or French; photocopy of letter (4 December 1931) from H.S. ...ford, Society of Antiquaries of London, to Nelson, inviting him to exhibit the bell at a ballot meeting; photocopy of letter (12 February 1934) from C.C. Oman, Victoria and Albert Museum, to Nelson, thanking him for sending an interesting note published about his bell (source of publication not named); photocopy of letter in French (2 January 1933) from Louis Mennecier, conservator, Musées des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Reims, to Nelson, in which he notes that he has sent that day, under separate cover, a photograph of a twelfth-century bronze bell held by his museum; photocopy of second letter in French (5 January 1933) in which Mennecier encloses document which gives transcriptions of inscriptions on this bell as well as its dimensions. Mennecier mentions that he does not know of any similar bells. Also present is transcription of extract from an exhibition catalogue for a retrospective exhibition of French art held in 1900 at which the Rheims bell was displayed. Letter (23 January 1998) from Pauline Rushton, Curator of Costume and Textiles, National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, Liverpool Museum, to Michael Holland, Registrar, Hunt Museum. Writes that she is currently researching the collections and archival papers of the Liverpool collector Doctor Philip Nelson, a large proportion of which were purchased from his widow by Liverpool Museum in 1953. Trying to trace some objects and requests to know if bell is still in the Hunt Collection. Encloses black and white photograph of object; facsimile reply (30 January 1998) confirming that object is in the Hunt Museum.
Category
Place of collection
Technique
Copyright Attribution
Bronze bell | Metal,Copper Alloy,Bronze | 12th century AD | The Hunt Collection | PD
