Servant's Bell

Name/Title

Servant's Bell

Entry/Object ID

1998.181.1

Description

Metal servant's bell hanging from a curved strip of brass and featuring a floral design.

Use

Servant’s bells utilized a system of wires and pulleys that ran throughout the walls of a home. This technology allowed the homeowner to discreetly summon an enslaved worker to a specific room, such as the drawing room or a bedchamber. Bell systems continued to be used to summon household staff and servants following emancipation.

Dimensions

Width

8-3/4 in

Length

12 in

Material

Metal