A RARE MID SEVENTEENTH CENTURY SCOTTISH 'DEID BELL'
JAMES MONTEITH, EDINBURGH CIRCA 1642
£2,800
Scottish Silver & Applied Arts
Auction: 15 August 2018 at 11:00 BST
Description
the deep bell with short simple stalk handle the main body with reeded decoration with one border reading 'IACOBUS MONTIETH ME FECIT 1642'
Dimensions
20cm high, 15cm diameter
Footnote
Notes:
This rare mid-17th century Scottish hand bell would appear to be one of only six known by James Montieth and indeed the only small example. The other five recorded bells are all large church bells and can be found in St. Andrews, North Berwick, Auchinleck and Alloway.
It seems likely the small hand bell would have been used in a smaller parish / town as an official town or church bell likely used on market days, processions and to announce proclamations etc. Bells of this type in Scotland are often called 'Deid Bells' as they were also used in funeral processions and services and became so closely connected with death and the assosicated services.
The maker, James Monteith, is well recorded in the records of Edinburgh and the Incorporation of Hammermen, he is recorded as a Pewterer and like many other members of the Hammermen he obviously turned his hand to varied trades to help make ends meet.
His name is also seen on a brass cannon, dated 1642, which is within the collection of National Museums Scotland. This cannon is an exceptionally rare survival in Scotland and is thought to have been used by the Army of the Solemn League and Covenant. Monteith's connections with the Covenantor cannot be overlooked as he appears to have acted as an armourer for them and likely produced other cannon, guns, armour and musket balls etc. It is recorded that he was not paid for this work until 1649 when a special act of Parliament was needed to settle his account of over £5000 Scots. Being owed such a sum must have weighed heavily on his business and within this act it is said of him 'if some speedy course be not taken for his present subsistence, the supplicant would have cause to desert his family'