Indonesia

There are numerous reports of tiger bells in Indonesia, the majority from East Kalimantan (Kalimantan is the Indonesian part of Borneo), but also in other parts of the country. All bells are of the A type, in sizes varying from about 2 to 4 cm.

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Kalimantan
Group: Benuaq

Twenty bells with tiger bells of varying size, with round hoops; on a belt worn by a shaman ('belian').
Reported in 1985.

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Group: Kenyah

Several tiger bells in various sizes, tied to children's ankles as an amulet. Seen in one village (Long Bagun Ilir, Mahakam river). When asked about the age of the bells, the answer was that they were already in the possession of the 'orang keturunan' ('the people that came down'): the ancestors who lived in the forests. A date or time could not be given. Reported in 1985.

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Group: Kayan

In 'Travels through Borneo' (1935) an drawing with the caption 'Hawk's bell on Kayan necklace (Peek Coll.)'

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Group: Bahau

Two tiger bells in a bundle of ordinary bells. One (in front) is similar to a tiger bell from Sulawesi reported by Kaudern. Author's collection, photographed and collected in 1985 (bell in front).

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Group: various Dayak groups

Baby carrier with twelve tiger bells

Close up of one of the bells

In the Leyden museum (Leyden, Neth.): several baby carriers from East and Central Kalimantan, one with 12 tiger bells, another with 5 tiger bells, together with ordinary pellet bells.

Baby carrier with five tiger bells


The five tiger bells in close up

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In the Tropen museum (Amsterdam, Neth.): A baby carrier with three tiger bells (originally there were seven to eight bells).

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In the Nijmegen University museum (Nijmegen, Neth.): several bells on various objects such as a walking stick, a cloth covered with bead work and several bells in bundles combined with four to six ordinary bells.

 

 

 

 

 

Left and right: walking stick with one tiger bell

 

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Several examples of tiger bells, used as an amulet, in author's collection.

Tiger bell as an amulet together with several old beads
and three ordinary bells

These tiger bells are roughly made and are similar to tiger bells from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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There are several illustrations with tiger bells in 'Hornbill and Dragon' by Bernardo Sellato (Elf Aquitaine Indonesia, 1989)

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Group: Lanun

Two larger tiger bells and one small tiger bell on a kampilan (sword). Photograph in 'Schwerter von Celebes' by Foy, published in 1899.

Collection Ethnographic Museum, Dresden

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Sulawesi
Group: Toraja

Courtesy: Tropen Museum, Amsterdam

Belt with seven tiger bells, in the Tropen museum, Amsterdam; exhibited during the exposition 'From shaman to cyber space', 1998

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One tiger bell, described in 'Art in Celebes' by Walter Kaudern (1944):

'

These bells are laterally flattened with a square hoop, perforated for a suspending string. Below there is a rather broad slot, possibly meant to represent the mouth of an animal, two knobs on either side, surrounded by rings, looking like two eyes.'
Volume III, page 78, picture 77.

The actual bell is in the Leyden Museum:

The actual bell, collected by W. Kaudern

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An illustration in 'Art in Celebes' by Walter Kaudern of a collar of bead work and coins and bells.

Description:

'Common bells and globular bells which the North Toraja use for ornamental purposes have more or less a religieus meaning with them.(....) Certain globular bells are covered with ornaments, such as the one seen in fig. 222E and E1 but these are of Chinese import.'

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In the National Museum in Jakarta: one smaller tiger bell, tied to a dance stick (roé-roé). Collected in 1938, on display in 1983, later removed from the exhibition.

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Flores
Bundles of tiger bells, tied to the ankles of male dancers performing a line dance. Shown in an episode of the anthropoligical tv series 'Man on the rim'.

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Timor
One small tiger bell (width: appr. 2 cm.), originally tied to a stick, used by tribal elders for ceremonial purposes and dancing. Age of the bell was estimated by the shop owner as 'older than Majapahit' (AD 1300).
Author's collection

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In the Municipal museum of Figueira da Foz (Portugal): a horse belt with four tiger bells (nr. N7122, collected in or before 1894).

Photograph: Joãs Jardin

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Sumatra
Group: Minangkabau

In the Leyden Museum: two bells tied together, collected in Sungai Puar (no year given).The bells were used for cats.

A Minangkabau blacksmith told me that tiger bells could probably still be found with the 'people from Sijunjung and those living on the slopes of the Merapi'.

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Group: Toba Batak

In the Medan Regional Museum: one smaller tiger bell, tied to a ceremonial belt ('semara'), used in ritual dances by religious leaders.

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Group: unknown, possibly Toba

One tiger bell, roughly made, bought in an antique shop in Prapat in 1986 (author's collection).

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Sumba
Group: unknown
One tiger bell, said to used for horses. Bought in 1985.

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Bali
Group: unknown, but probably used in Bali
One tiger bell, said to be used for horses; bought in 1983.

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Java
One small tiger bell, in an antique shop in Klaten. The owner said that the bell was Chinese and dated from the T'ang dynasty, appr. 500 AD. Reported in 1981.

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One bell, in the collection of the Mankunegara Kraton in Solo, together with several ordinary bells.