Cow Bell

This is a bell hung on an ox’s neck. Some cattle did not wear a bell, but most wore one or more on their neck. The bell was hung on the left when there was only one. When there were two bells, they were hung on each side. Occasionally, two bells were hung on either side. The ox bell was rung in order to quickly identify the location of lost cattle, or to drown out various noises since cattle can be easily frightened and panicked by strange or unfamiliar sounds. An ox bell is generally made of iron, and has various forms including a bell, a half-oval, or a cylinder. A stick inside the body of the bell creates a sound when it knocks against the body, and the bell is hung from a loop on top by threading a rope.