Novelty Silver Bell
A novelty silver bell brings wit to the desk or table, combining functional ringing with whimsical forms from the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
Novelty Silver Bell
A novelty silver bell is an ingenious desk accessory or table bell fashioned into unexpected shapes such as animals, bellows, and figural designs. When you examine a novelty silver bell, you find items spanning from the late nineteenth century through the Art Deco period, including George V and Edwardian examples.
The selections on this page encompass functional desk bells, table gongs, and combined desk accessories like inkwells and pin cushions. Most pieces originate from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, utilising sterling silver or silver plate alongside materials like glass, bone, and mother of pearl.
Buyers seeking a novelty silver bell encounter forms ranging from mechanical pig bells to figural desk pieces. The inventory reflects a tradition of playful silverwork produced by prominent silversmiths and retailers across England.
What varies in quality
Quality also depends on the preservation of original hallmarks, the clarity of the silver plate or sterling surface, and the integration of secondary materials like glass inserts or bone handles. Superior examples maintain smooth operation in their spring-loaded mechanisms or hinged compartments.
Novelty Silver Bell Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for novelty silver bell 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.
A mechanical pig bell gives an energetic nod to Victorian humour, ringing out cheerfully whenever its snout or tail is pressed.
Asprey And Co·A And J Zimmerman·John Zimmerman
The Novelty Silver Bell Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing 92.5 percent pure silver by mass and 7.5 percent other metals, usually copper. This standard composition is frequently encountered in British desk accessories and novelty pieces.
- Silver plate
- A layer of silver applied to a base metal substrate, such as brass or copper. This technique allowed makers to produce large decorative items at a lower cost.
- Inkwell
- A small container for holding ink, often incorporated into the design of desk bells and desktop accessories during the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
- Pin cushion
- A padded small fixture used for holding pins, occasionally built into the base or body of novelty silver bell desk pieces.
- Table gong
- A larger hanging or mounted bell struck with a mallet, representing a heavier form of table bell seen in nineteenth and twentieth-century dining rooms.
Novelty Silver Bell: Frequently Asked Questions
Were these bells used for calling servants?
Many of the table bells and desk accessories served practical signaling purposes in grand nineteenth-century households and offices. Their clever novelty designs allowed them to sit openly on a desk or table while remaining fully functional.
Some pieces combined this ringing capability with inkwells or pin cushions, serving dual roles as desktop stationery tools.
What materials are found alongside the silver?
Makers frequently incorporated contrasting materials to enhance the visual appeal and utility of desk pieces. Glass inserts served as inkwells, while bone, horn, and mother of pearl appeared in handles and decorative mounts.
Brass and base metals formed the internal mechanisms of mechanical pieces or underpinned silver-plated items.
How do I care for a silver bell?
Maintaining these pieces requires gentle cleaning with a soft cloth and specialist silver polish to preserve the chased details and hallmarks. Avoid abrasive materials that can wear down thin silver plate or damage integrated glass and bone elements.
Keeping the bell in a stable environment protects any internal mechanical springs from moisture and corrosion.