I found mine on Fakenham Market in 2014 for £2. Explanation of the bell here The team paid £5 and it sold for £15. Sold under their correct description, they usually go for more than that. No, I'm not selling mine!
Further research when I got home revealed that
Tomie de Paola was an award winning children's illustrator in the USA. The book came out in 1984 and is recognised as a classic, and families read it together each Chr8stas Eve. There are six amazing pictures telling the Nativity Story, with accompanying text, and pop-ups and sliders.
Tomie de Paola was an award winning children's illustrator in the USA. The book came out in 1984 and is recognised as a classic, and families read it together each Chr8stas Eve. There are six amazing pictures telling the Nativity Story, with accompanying text, and pop-ups and sliders.
- The Annunciation - a house in Nazareth [dove flies, bell swings, and Gabriel nods and waves a hand to Mary
- The Census - in Bethlehem a line of people walk past a Roman soldier, with Joseph, Mary and the wee donkey bringing up the rear.
- An innkeeper points the couple "not this way, that way!" directing them to the stable
- An angel proclaims the baby's birth to astonished shepherd's, and even more singing angels fly out from behind the clouds
- Three wise men stand outside Bethlehem pointing to the star - and suddenly it shines even more brightly over the stable
- Everyone turns up to worship at the manger. No moving parts here, but the reader should shine a small torch through the little hole in the stable roof to illuminate the ChristChild.
If you have 8 minutes to spare, here is a woman [plus two glove puppets] reading the story
I am delighted with this ten-bob-treasure [my bargains are often measured in £sd]
A couple of months back, Jill in Dorset won the Noahs Ark panel. Sorry Jill, I think your email may have got lost in the ether. Please send me your address as a comment [I won't publish it] And I will post the piece off to you ASAP. Apologies for the delay Update, thank you Jill. Address received. Problem solved
Speaking of unexpected treasures, have you been following Sue-in-Suffolk, and the wonderful package of old photographs she bought recently? Fabulous photos of villages along the old A12 in the Edwardian era...
No, you're not selling your Gospel Bell!
ReplyDeleteHaving and finding little treasures is especially wonderful.
How wonderful that you found the illustrated book by Tomie dePaola.
Thanks for the link.
Hugs from Viola
Hugs to you, Viola!
ReplyDeleteThat's sad they didn't know what it was. It's very pretty. The book looks great. I like pop up books! We had a Fungus the Bogeyman Plop up book when I was growing up. I was scared of it but also fascinated!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to read a pop-up book with a class, best suited to a small group. I like the idea of a Plop Up Fungus!
DeleteJust been searching amazon to try and find which tomie depaolo book we had in the 80's as I know we had something but can't find which one.
ReplyDeleteYour bell is rather nice.
I had not heard of TdP before. I love my little bell
DeleteWhat a lovely little bell and a bargain. I was laughing about the ten bob book because that seems a much bigger cost then 50p! It’s a beautiful book and you will enjoy repairing and using it. As an infant teacher for a large part of my working life, I had amassed a huge collection of books like this. My daughter’s sister in law trained as an early years worker a few years ago and my collection found a new home. Catriona
ReplyDeleteIt is SO hard for me to let go of books. As the grandchildren get older, I am reducing the collection. But some [eg the little Beatrix Potter books] remain.
DeleteI wonder if they actually rang the bell before the gospel reading? I have a feeling that in some high churches, possibly Eastern Orthodox, they ring a bell, but I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteI think they ring the bell when they " elevate the Hosr" at communion. But not 100% sure
DeleteIn the Catholic tradition, yes, a bell is rung, or struck, at the Elevation. It looks as if your bell features the symbols of the gospel writers.
DeleteThanks for that clarification ☺️
DeleteI used to go to a 'High' church as a child and they rang it when they used to swing the incense distributer (no idea what the name was)
DeleteA censer or a thurible (from turibilim, the Latin word for incense, I think)
DeleteI have a Gospel Bell but didn't know that was what it was called until I read your post. I got mine in a charity shop about 5 years ago for 50p along with another brass bell for the same price. That is just a small bell with a turned wooden handle nothing special it just has a nice ring. The Gospel Bell is very heavy brass it has a lion, a deer and a bird on it and some writing which is very rubbed but says Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John giving their Latin names. I am thrilled. Regards Sue H
ReplyDelete🔔🙂
DeleteJust looked again and can see there is a lamb, lion and the bird could be a pelican and lilies but it is very rubbed. Definitely the Saints names. What a lovely thing. Sue H
ReplyDeleteOne of the birds is an eagle [St John's emblem] representing the divinity of Jesus. I've also since discovered the little ladders represent either Jacobs stairs to heaven or the ladders used by soldiers at the crucifixion. There are X symbols between the words too. I hope yours rings with a lovely clear note as mine does 🔔
ReplyDeleteI have a similar bell embellished with flowers. My aunt told me her cousin had bought it at the vatican. She probably told me at the time what it was used for but it was twenty years ago so I had forgotten. Thanks for the reminder - now I know that it might have meaning for my son-in-law or daughter-in-law as they are both Catholic.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely family heirloom to pass on to the next generation
DeleteAlso, the bell would be used in high Anglican services - the reason our vicar referred to that service as “bells and smells” because they used bells and incense just like the Catholics.
ReplyDeleteThank you 🔔
DeleteYes it does have a lovely clear tone. Aren't we lucky to find such amazing things. I knew it was something out of the ordinary, now thanks to you I know much more about it. Wonderful Sue H
ReplyDelete👍🔔
DeleteThe little gospel bell is lovely and it was nice to read the history of them.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
👍
DeleteYour little bell is wonderful and how cool to see it on television, but equally annoying that the 'experts' didn't know it's correct name. It's good that yours is staying firmly with you.
ReplyDeleteThat pop-up book sounds amazing, I too have just made a Christmas purchase, two Christmas crackers from the charity shop for 10p each. I was so pleased to get them that I did donate a couple of pounds more. I thought better for me to get crackers that I can open and add a 'proper' little gift to than to spend a lot more than £2.20 on a box of crackers full of plastic novelties.
I think "re usable crackers" are becoming more popular.
ReplyDeleteI think you should write to the producers of the program and explain to them what the bell is that their experts didn't identify correctly. :)
ReplyDeleteI remember reading Tomie de Paola books to my daughter when she was little. We would borrow them from the library.
Oh how lovely. My daughter sent me pictures from his Pasta Pot book this afternoon
DeleteThe bell is sweet, a lovely portrayal of important images. I haven't come across these, so perhaps they are English. Our church has a set of 4 bells joined together that are rung before the prayer of consecration and then during the elevation.
ReplyDeleteThe book is well worth the minor repairs you will make. You will enjoy sharing it with the grandchildren!
It will be a special time together
DeleteYou reminded me that I too have a bell, it belonged to my mother. I dug it out and cleaned it for the first time in years (with a vinegar, salt and flour paste, metal cleaner didn't work). It will now sit in my craft room. Thanks, Renella
ReplyDeleteA lovely memory Renella
Delete