Brass Chime Gong
These brass chime gong pieces are striking domestic signals from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, bringing resonant tone and robust period presence to any hall or dining room.
Brass Chime Gong
A brass chime gong serves as an evocative household summons, commonly encountered as a table gong or dinner gong mounted within a sturdy timber frame. These pieces originate from the nineteenth century up through the nineteen-thirties, spanning periods from Victorian and Edwardian to Arts and Crafts and Gothic Revival.
The most frequent configuration on this page pairs a brass or bronze gong suspended by cord from an oak stand, often accompanied by a handheld striker. Variations range from wall gongs and veranda supper bells to floor standing models and intricate Chinese or Japanese imports.
Materials and construction
Makers shaped the resonant discs from cast brass and bronze, sometimes applying silver plate or integrating cattle horn and felt accents. These metallic elements hang from frames constructed of oak, walnut, hardwood, or wrought iron.
Joinery and mounting rely on traditional woodworking techniques, incorporating carved details, brass mounts, and suspension cords to allow the gong free vibration when struck.
Brass Chime Gong Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for brass chime gong among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings span the nineteenth century, Victorian, Edwardian, and nineteen-thirties periods, utilising materials such as brass, bronze, oak, walnut, cattle horn, and cord.
Distinctions in quality
Quality rests upon the resonance of the metal disc and the architectural integrity of its supporting stand. Heavier brass or bronze castings yield a clearer, sustained chime compared to lighter plates.
The craftsmanship of the frame dictates overall merit, separating straightforward utilitarian stands from elaborately carved Gothic Revival or Arts and Crafts structures with integrated horse head mounts or dragon motifs.
Winterhalder and Hofmeier
The Brass Chime Gong Glossary
- Dinner gong
- A household instrument used to announce meals, typically consisting of a suspended metal disc and a mallet.
- Striker
- The handheld mallet or beamer used to hit the gong, often finished with a wooden or padded head.
- Gothic Revival
- A design style drawing on medieval architectural motifs, frequently seen in carved wooden frames for gongs.
- Aesthetic Movement
- A late nineteenth-century design current emphasising visual beauty, reflected in decorative brasswork.
- Wall gong
- A hanging version affixed directly to vertical surfaces rather than resting on a table or floor.
Brass Chime Gong: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a brass chime gong?
A brass chime gong is a resonant percussion instrument housed in a decorative stand, historically used in homes to gather people for meals.
Most examples feature a metal disc suspended by cord from a wooden or iron frame, struck with a handheld mallet to produce a deep tone.
How were these gongs used?
Households utilised these gongs primarily as dinner signals, sounding them across rooms to announce that food was ready.
Veranda bells and tea ceremony gongs served similar domestic or ceremonial alerting functions in large period residences.
How do I place a gong at home?
Table models sit easily on sideboards or entrance hall surfaces, while larger floor standing or wall-mounted versions suit hallways and reception spaces.
Keep the striker nearby on the base or stand so the piece remains functional as well as decorative.
How can I tell the periods apart?
Victorian and nineteenth-century pieces often display heavy Gothic Revival woodwork or elaborate Oriental carved dragon stands.
Edwardian, nineteen-twenties, and Art Nouveau examples introduce cleaner lines, simpler brass plates, or distinct geometric frames.