BELLS are used in shamanic work for communicating with spirits, storytelling and dancing, purification rituals, and to accompany (or even substitute for) the sound of the drum.  They are universal ritual objects that have been made, used, traded, and treasured all over the world.  FORGED IRON BELLS have a unique dark sound and a powerful presence.  I have been forging  bells for nearly 15 years, and have made them for shamans, storytellers, artists, and others.

I make several styles of CONES and PODS.  These have no clappers, but make noise by clinking together.  They are original designs inspired by traditional Siberian and West African iron bells, and can be used as amulets, jewelry, or ornaments.

CLAPPER BELLS are three-pointed domes shaped like Asarum wild ginger flowers, and have been one of my signature designs for more than a decade.  They are forged from flat triangles of 1/8" steel plate in three sizes:  1", 2", and 3" in diameter.

CARING FOR BELLS:  To create the black finish on my ironwork, the finished piece is cleaned of firescale using a wire brush and small polishing tools.  Then it is returned to the forge, heated, and quenched in peanut oil to give it a uniform shiny black coating.  Usually, this finish is sufficiently rust-resistant to protect objects from ambient moisture in the air, so it is fine for bells that are used frequently, hung on a wall indoors, etc.   Objects may develop small rust spots in a damp environment, especially in storage.  Bells are NOT intended for outdoor use unless you want them to rust!
COPPER is polished but not laquered, so it will tarnish to an attractive warm brown color.

Hear my BELLS RINGING on YOUTUBE.

Forged Iron Jewelry
Women's Knives

PLAIN CONES	FLARED CONES	CURLY CONES	PODS

STEPS IN FORGING A CONE BELL

Triple Flared Cones    $125  4.5"	Triple Nested Wavy Cones $160  5.5"	Pair of Flared Cones $80  4"

Genii Cucullati - The Hooded Ones    $160   Sound 5" total length.  Hot-forged copper clappers are 1.5" long.

Available CLAPPER BELLS are shown below. They can be custom modified to change the chain length, ornaments, type of hook, etc. Click thumbnail at left to see sold custom work. e-mail

JELLYFISH  $325  4.5" long

PILGRIM'S COMPANION  $185    Sound 1" and 2" bells, 5.5" total length.	THREE JOURNEYS  $260   Sound 1", 2", and 3" nested bells with button-style clapper.  On riveted and reverse-twisted ring.  4" total length.

DESERT CREEK $225  11.5" total length.  Bells forged from discs. Clappers are hidden inside.

Sound Video  SNAKE GODDESS  $460  3" bell with split doubled points, 12" total length.   Sound Only

ALL SOUL'S PROCESSION  $525   Sound Three nested bells (1.25", 2", 3").  23" total length.  Hanging bells swing freely against each other.

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SOLD

Two Pomegranates   2005

Underworld Jellyfish  2006 SOUND

Ashes & Rust My blog post on this bell's transformation after a house fire.