Cut Crystal Dinner Bell

25-Character Title Cut Crystal Dinner Bell (23) Alternates: Crystal Table Bell (18) Lead Crystal Bell 8in (21) Pressed Crystal Bell (20) HiBid DESCRIPTION HEAVY CUT AND PRESSED CRYSTAL DINNER BELL WITH FACETED HANDLE AND GLASS BEAD CLAPPER A substantial clear crystal dinner or table bell with a deeply patterned skirt and a long faceted handle. The body is molded and cut with arched panels enclosing fan and feathered starburst motifs, framed by a band of small diamond and star hobnail work above the rim, and finished with a fine sawtooth or scalloped edge. The handle rises in a slender waisted column with cut flat facets and terminates in a faceted, star-cut knop cap. The clapper is a strand of clear glass beads ending in a round glass ball, suspended from a fitting inside the crown, and it rings with a clear tone rather than the dull note of soda-lime glass. Handsome as a dining-table or holiday accessory, a shelf or curio-cabinet display piece, or a gift item, and the heft and the star-cut finial both point to lead crystal rather than ordinary pressed glass. Small patches of old yellowed label adhesive remain on the shoulder, noted below. No maker mark, signature, or paper label is visible in any photograph, so no manufacturer is claimed. Sold as a single bell. Description One clear crystal bell, patterned skirt with sawtooth rim, waisted faceted handle, faceted star-cut cap. Measures approximately 8 to 8-1/2 inches tall overall per the tape-measure photograph. The tape hook plate is standing on the tabletop beside the bell rather than hooked on the piece, so the height is a close estimate. The mouth of the bell is not separately measured in the photographs; bidders should verify all dimensions from the photographs. Skirt decoration: arched panels with fan and feathered starburst cutting, a band of diamond and star hobnail above the scalloped rim, and radiating cut work visible through the glass from underneath. Clapper: a strand of clear faceted glass beads with a round glass ball terminal, hung from a fitting set into the crown of the bell; it appears intact and freely swinging in the photographs. No maker's mark, acid stamp, etched signature, or label is legible in any photograph. Attribution note Heavy lead-crystal bells of this type, with cut or deeply pressed skirts, faceted handles, and glass or metal bead clappers, were produced in quantity from the mid twentieth century onward by European crystal houses, notably in Germany, Austria, and what was then Czechoslovakia, and were widely sold in the United States through gift and department-store channels. Many were marked only with a foil or paper label that has since been removed, which is consistent with the adhesive residue present on this example, and unmarked pieces are common. Lead-crystal content is suggested here by the weight, the brilliance of the facets, and the ring of the clapper, but lead content cannot be verified from photographs. No maker, country of origin, age, or lead percentage is claimed. Buyers should also note that pressed patterns are molded with slightly rounded edges while true hand cutting leaves sharp polished mitres, and this bell appears to combine molded pattern work with cut facets on the handle. Identification is offered as the consignor's photo-based opinion and is not guaranteed. Bid on the item as pictured. Condition Used vintage condition, sold as-is. Yellowed adhesive residue from an old foil or paper label remains in two or three spots on the shoulder of the bell, clearly visible in the photographs. Light overall use scuffing and fine scratching are present in the glass, most visible on the handle facets and around the crown. Faint haze and light residue show inside the bell and in the deeper pattern recesses. A few rim teeth appear slightly irregular in the close-up photographs, and bidders should treat those areas as possible small nicks or mold roughness. No cracks are apparent in the photographs and the clapper strand appears complete and attached, but the bell has not been examined under magnification or run under a fingernail check, and no such guarantee is made. Photos are part of the description. Notes for bidders Hand wash only in warm water with mild soap, supporting the bell by the skirt rather than swinging it by the handle, and dry promptly with a soft cloth to avoid water spots and mineral film. Do not put crystal in a dishwasher, do not soak, and avoid sudden temperature changes. Old label adhesive usually softens with a little mineral oil or an adhesive remover on a cloth followed by a soap-and-water wash, but any cleaning is the buyer's decision and risk. Handle the bead clapper gently, since the strand and its fitting are the most fragile part of the piece. Only the piece pictured is included in this lot. Terms Sold as-is, where-is, with no warranty expressed or implied. All sales final. Please ask any questions before bidding. Buyer is responsible for pickup or shipping arran