Bell without a heart

Exhibit of the Month 3 / 2017

Bell without a heart

Bell without a heart (CYMBÁL / SCHLAGGLOCKE) from the lower lantern of the tower of the Dean's Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Most.

This type of stationary bells, usually placed in the highest accessible location of church towers, was used to strike the hours of the day, or parts of them. It was sounded by a hammer that struck the bell's casing from the outside and was controlled by a pull. In later times, the pulls were connected to clock mechanisms, and the striking occurred automatically. Marks from the strikes of two hammers are visible on the sides of the bell.