Pair of Backstrap Bells

Pair of Backstrap Bells, 19th/20th century The acquisitions of the Łańcut Castle Museum presented primarily in the Gala Harness Room in the Castle Stables feature sets and harness parts purchased by the Museum, which make up an interesting collection of harnesses from the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, used primarily in court carriages. The Museum also holds an interesting collection of bells for horse teams. Among bells for winter rides in the collection of the Castle Museum, two types can be distinguished: backstrap bells attached to the backstrap by the harness, or neck bells. The presented item is a backstrap bell which forms a set with another item of the same type ˗ it comprises round bells in two sizes made of nickel plated metal on a semicircular arch made of nickel plated metal ˗ the central one is large and there are five smaller ones on every side, where three are attached on the outside of the arch and two to the inside. The arch is attached with rivets to the backstrap of the harness made of black leather with nickel plated rein rings, a varnished ringlet for the crupper and with a trace carrier. Aldona Cholewianka-Kruszyńska