Tiger bells in the Middle East

Syria

Several newly made tiger bells, in a hardware store in Damascus. Bells are sold and used , both individually and, in larger numbers, attached to leather horse belts. The bells are said to be produced locally. They come in several sizes. Here the largest and the smallest are shown.
Dimensions: large bell, diameter: 4 cm., height: 3,2 cm.; small bell, diameter: 1,2 m., height: 0,9 cm.

The tiger head motif is there although not very clear. The 'Wang' character and a shape probably inspired by a Chinese character on the 'forehead' are present. The teeth surrounding the 'mouth' are however replaced by what seem to be whiskers which make the face look more like a cat. Therefore, although the design and shape come closest to the A type, it is probably better to consider these bells as a local variation (such as the locally made variation in Nepal) until more information is available.

The small bell is clearly a tiger bell as well, although because of the size, much detail is lost.

Author's collection; collected and donated in April 2005 by Annemarieke Koch.

The largest and the smallest tiger bell

A design inspired by a Chinese character,
on the 'forehead'

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