From the early days of livestock faming, humans attached bells to their animals. A sign of domestication, the bells would help farmers or shepherds locate their livestock on extensive pastures in the dark or fog. In Switzerland, bells cast in bronze were long reserved for ceremonial and religious purposes. They started to be used for livestock from the 18th century and became widespread around 1820. From the very beginning, the outer bodies of the bells featured a wide variety of designs and motifs, representing the everyday lives of founders and farmers, and reflecting the beliefs, hopes and fears of rural populations.
There is evidence of some 200 foundries in Switzerland from the early 19th century onwards. However, the transformation of agriculture in the late 20th and early 21st century has dramatically reduced the use of bells, which are now more likely to be seen at official receptions, sporting events or in advertising campaigns than around cows’ necks. Today, there are only seven workshops casting cowbells in Switzerland. The know-how and expertise accumulated by founders, often within families and over several generations, is in real danger.
