Tiger bells in South Asia

Nepal

Tiger bells are of the C type and B-type, roughly made variation of the A type.

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Group: Unknown, probably common

A roughly made imitation of an A type bell. The 'Wang' character is present but apparently was not recognized by the maker. The shape is like a rough sphere, with a square hoop.
Author's collection (bought in 1976, in a curio shop in Amsterdam).

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Several type C tiger bells, bought (1976), received (1986, from a.o. Hugo de Groote) and seen (1990) by the author. This type of bell is very common in Nepal. Many are newly made. One factory, in Dehra Dunn, produces these bells for the Tibetan and Nelalese market. Also Rajpur was mentioned as a place where tiger bells are produced. Both Dehra Dunn and Rajpur are in Uttar Pradesh (India).

New bells, sold as souvenirs

One tiger bell, probably type B, used by a medium from Tibet, now living in Kathmandu. The bell is attached to a chain worn across the chest, together with ordinary bells. Filmed during a demonstration of the medium in a film documentary on shamanism produced by Columbine film, Copenhagen (1986).

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One chain with eight tiger bells and eight ordinary bells in author's collection (collected in 1990)

Several shaman's shoulder girdles and chains, with tiger bells and ordinary bells, for sale in Kathmandu antique shops.

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Two tiger bels, size of type B but with a different design.

A shaman's chain or girdle with two large tiger bells and several ordinary bells.

The two tiger bells of the chain above.
Compare these bells with one of the bells from Chang Mai, Thailand.

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