Tiger bells in South East Asia

Laos

A report from K.Fritch (January '96):

The bells I have were acquired in Ban Houei Sai, a small Lao river town up near the "Golden Triangle". They were described as having been used as horse bells by Chinese Haw traders. There were bells of two types. One type was round and and seems to fit type B. The other does not seem to fit a described type. They were small and oblong, made of bronze, no character, but the opening in the bell was obviously a mouth and eyes appear on the bell. The string of bells I acquired was made up of both these types, but the strap to which they were attached was obviously of much more recent manufacture. The small bells appeared much more worn and considerably older than the type B.

Haw traders are a Chinese ethnic group [from Yunnan] who traded extensively throughout northern Southeast Asia. They used pack animals.

Note: The second type could be type D.

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