What is the bell on a ship called?

The bell on a ship is usually just called a ship's bell. However, you may sometimes see the bells called ship's chimes. On ships, bells help sailors on watch keep track of the time. Find a collection of antique ship's bells on 1stDibs.

What do the bells on a ship’s clock mean?

Historically, a bell was rung to denote each half hour of the four-hour long “watch” periods on a ship. The bell was rung manually and time was often kept by a sandglass rather than a clock. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of ship’s bells and nautical clocks.

Vintage Ships Bell

Vintage Silver Cocktail Shakers

Vintage Silver and Wood Nautical Bell Cocktail Shaker

$495

Vintage Silver and Wood Nautical Bell Cocktail Shaker

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Shaped like a classic ship's bell, this vintage cocktail shaker brings a spirited nautical note to any home bar.

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Recent Sales

Vintage Naval & Military Ships Foredeck Bell Vietnam Era

Unavailable

H 17 in Dm 10 in

Vintage Naval & Military Ships Foredeck Bell Vietnam Era

Located in Palm City, FL

Presented is a post WW II military bell that is mounted to a classic WW II inverted "J" foredeck bracket. The bracket is brass plated aluminum that was cast by J.M. Loeffler of Phila...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Desk Accessories

Rare Vintage Chelsea Ships Bell Clock Hinged Bezel 5 Stars

Unavailable

H 10 in Dm 7.25 in

Rare Vintage Chelsea Ships Bell Clock Hinged Bezel 5 Stars

By Chelsea Clock

Located in Palm City, FL

A current make Chelsea Ship's Bell clock sells for over $2600.00 today.

Category

Vintage 1970s American Clocks

Vintage Chelsea Nautical Base & Ball Ships Bell Clock Rose Case

Unavailable

H 7.5 in W 6.5 in D 3 in Dm 4.5 in

Vintage Chelsea Nautical Base & Ball Ships Bell Clock Rose Case

Located in Palm City, FL

Later named - Commodore -.A perfect example of a Chelsea Clock Co., marine ship's bell clock in a stylish forged pink bronze case.

Category

Vintage 1970s American Clocks

Vintage Seth Thomas Corsair E537-012 Maritime Ships Bell Clock and Barometer Set

Sold

H 7 in W 14 in D 3 in

Vintage Seth Thomas Corsair E537-012 Maritime Ships Bell Clock and Barometer Set

By Seth Thomas Clock Company

Located in Big Flats, NY

A vintage Seth Thomas Corsair E537-012 maritime ship's set offers brass encased bell clock and barometer set in mahogany base and with key, Corsair E537-012, circa 1930.

Category

20th Century American More Clocks

Materials

Brass

Vintage Salem Ships Bell Nautical 8 Day Desk Clock Brass Wheel Porthole Working

Sold

H 10.5 in W 9 in D 6 in

Vintage Salem Ships Bell Nautical 8 Day Desk Clock Brass Wheel Porthole Working

Located in Dayton, OH

Late 20th century Salem Ships Bell desk / table clock. Brass case in the shape of a porthole surrounded by a ship's wheel / helm, set on a rectangular wood base. Champagne gilt face ...

Category

Late 20th Century Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Vintage Master Ship's Bell, English, Bronze, Maritime, Nautical Interest, C.1930

Sold

H 7.68 in W 5.91 in D 6.11 in

Vintage Master Ship's Bell, English, Bronze, Maritime, Nautical Interest, C.1930

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is a vintage master ship's bell. An English, bronze maritime bell with nautical interest, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1930.

Category

Early 20th Century British Nautical Objects

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Ships Bell

Sold

H 11 in W 9 in D 9 in

Vintage Ships Bell

Located in San Francisco, CA

Bronze ship's bell

Category

Antique 19th Century American More Furniture and Collectibles

Materials

Metal

Vintage Polished Brass Wall-Mounted Ship's Bell

Sold

H 10.24 in W 7.49 in D 9.45 in

Vintage Polished Brass Wall-Mounted Ship's Bell

Located in Worcester, Worcestershire

Very heavy vintage ship's bell.

Category

20th Century Nautical Objects

Vintage Town Crier Chrome Bell-Form Cocktail Shaker, with Clapper

$495

H 11 in Dm 8 in

Vintage Town Crier Chrome Bell-Form Cocktail Shaker, with Clapper

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Vintage chrome and wood cocktail shaker in the form of a bell. The handle unscrews from the top of the bell allowing you to fill the shaker. The handle has a strainer built in to the...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Barware

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Asprey & Co. Silver-Plated 'Bell' Cocktail Shaker

$1,350

H 10.63 in Dm 5.12 in

Vintage Asprey & Co. Silver-Plated 'Bell' Cocktail Shaker

By Asprey International Limited

Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos

Vintage Asprey & Co. Silver-Plated 'Bell' Cocktail Shaker Made in England, circa 1940. Good overall condition, has no damage, please see pictures for a better judgement of the it...

Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Antique Schoolmaster's Hand Bell, English, Bronze, Dinner Chime, Edwardian, 1910

$1,047Sale Price|20% Off

H 11.62 in W 5.71 in D 5.71 in

Antique Schoolmaster's Hand Bell, English, Bronze, Dinner Chime, Edwardian, 1910

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is an antique schoolmaster's hand bell. An English, bronze and ebonised lignum vitae dinner chime, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910. A tactile and substantial example,...

Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Bronze

Vintage English Silver Plate Table Bell by Walker & Hall, 1962

$595

H 8.13 in Dm 4.25 in

Vintage English Silver Plate Table Bell by Walker & Hall, 1962

By Christofle, Elkington & Co., Tiffany & Co., Walker & Hall

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage English silver plate table bell. In silver plate with a black wooden handle. Marked to the side of the bell with Walker & Hall's maker's mark. Simply a wonderful En...

Category

Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Casted Bronze Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s

$445

H 4.73 in W 19.69 in D 4.93 in

Antique Casted Bronze Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s

Located in Berghuelen, DE

Antique Casted Bronze Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s An antique cast bronze cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown leather s...

Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Country Decorative Art

Materials

Bronze

Art Deco Chrome Town Crier Bell Form Cocktail Shaker W/ Ebonized Walnut Handle

$465

H 11 in Dm 5.5 in

Art Deco Chrome Town Crier Bell Form Cocktail Shaker W/ Ebonized Walnut Handle

Located in New York, NY

This striking Art Deco "Town Crier" cocktail shaker, crafted in America circa 1930, is a remarkable blend of form and functionality inspired by the iconic bell shape of a town crier....

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Barware

Materials

Chrome

Art Deco “Bell of the Ball” Chrome & Wood Bell Cocktail Shaker 1946 Presentation

$975

H 11 in Dm 6 in

Art Deco “Bell of the Ball” Chrome & Wood Bell Cocktail Shaker 1946 Presentation

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Art Deco “Bell of the Ball” Chrome & Wood Bell Cocktail Shaker—15th Anniversary Presentation, 1946 Dimensions: 11" H x 6" Diameter; Handle Height: 6" This delightful mid-century co...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Barware

Materials

Chrome

20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Table Bell

$966Sale Price / item|20% Off

H 7.49 in Dm 3.94 in

20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Table Bell

By Arval Argenti Valenza

Located in VALENZA, IT

Elegant table bell in solid 925 sterling silver. The bell is smooth and features some circular lines that make the object balanced and increase the sound of the bell. The wooden h...

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Other Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Silver Plated Hand Held School Bell Shaped Cocktail or Bar Shaker

$795

H 10.75 in Dm 6 in

Antique Silver Plated Hand Held School Bell Shaped Cocktail or Bar Shaker

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

This silver plated cocktail Shaker is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in England in circa 1935 in the period Art Deco style. The shape of the Shaker is comparable to a hand ...

Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Barware

Materials

Brass

Antique Asprey & Co Silver Plated Art Deco Novelty Cocktail Shaker 20th Century

$1,382

H 11.03 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in

Antique Asprey & Co Silver Plated Art Deco Novelty Cocktail Shaker 20th Century

By Asprey International Limited

Located in London, GB

A superb antique Art Deco silver plate novelty cocktail shaker with the makers mark of the world renowned retailer Asprey and Co, Circa 1920 in date. The bell shaped shaker feature...

Category

20th Century English Art Deco Sheffield and Silverplate

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Early 20th Century English Edwardian Nautical Brass Bell with Oak Stand

$1,719

H 9.85 in W 11.62 in D 5.12 in

Antique Early 20th Century English Edwardian Nautical Brass Bell with Oak Stand

Located in Nottingham, GB

A charming and highly decorative early 20th-century English Edwardian brass bell, beautifully presented within a finely crafted oak stand and distinguished by its quality constructio...

Category

Early 20th Century Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Dinner Bell Signed by Auböck

$911Sale Price|33% Off

H 3.55 in Dm 5.52 in

Dinner Bell Signed by Auböck

By Werkstätte Carl Auböck

Located in Wien, Au

Dinner bell signed by Auböck Original condition.

Category

Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern More Dining and Entertaining

Materials

Brass

Old Brass British Military Issue Brass Handbell A Great Piece, Second World War

$431

H 10 in Dm 6 in

Old Brass British Military Issue Brass Handbell A Great Piece, Second World War

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Old Brass British Military Issue Brass Handbell A Great Piece, Second World War, dated 1942, marked A.S.1942, and with the broad arrow insignia denoting British military issue, with...

Category

Vintage 1940s British Colonial Musical Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique English Silver Plated Dinner Bell Mounted on an Oak Base, Circa 1890's.

$1,200

H 10 in W 11.25 in D 7.5 in

Antique English Silver Plated Dinner Bell Mounted on an Oak Base, Circa 1890's.

Located in New Orleans, LA

Antique English Silver Plated Dinner Bell Mounted on an Oak Base, Circa 1890-1900.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Musical Instruments

Materials

Silver Plate

Spanish Rustic Metal Hand Bell Bottle Opener, Mid-Century Modern, 1960

$291Sale Price|20% Off

H 4.93 in Dm 2.37 in

Spanish Rustic Metal Hand Bell Bottle Opener, Mid-Century Modern, 1960

Located in Barcelona, ES

Traditional metal hand bell bottle opener, by unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1960. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beaut...

Category

Vintage 1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Mounted Objects

Materials

Metal

Art Deco Silver Plate Cocktail Shaker, Marked Lancelott, Silver Plated

$360Sale Price|20% Off

H 8 in Dm 3.5 in

Art Deco Silver Plate Cocktail Shaker, Marked Lancelott, Silver Plated

Located in Nantucket, MA

Art Deco silver plate cobbler type shaker of stepped tapered form with incised lines on the body and cap.

Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

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Vintage Ships Bell For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal vintage ships bell for your home. Each vintage ships bell for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, brass and wood. There are many kinds of the vintage ships bell you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 19th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. A vintage ships bell is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in mid-century modern and Victorian styles are sought with frequency. Many designers have produced at least one well-made vintage ships bell over the years, but those crafted by Bell & Howell, Paul McCobb and Army & Navy CSL are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Vintage Ships Bell?

Prices for a vintage ships bell can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $295 and can go as high as $18,757, while the average can fetch as much as $3,848.

Questions About Vintage Ships Bell

What is the bell on a ship called?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
The bell on a ship is usually just called a ship's bell. However, you may sometimes see the bells called ship's chimes. On ships, bells help sailors on watch keep track of the time. Find a collection of antique ship's bells on 1stDibs.
What do the bells on a ship’s clock mean?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Historically, a bell was rung to denote each half hour of the four-hour long “watch” periods on a ship. The bell was rung manually and time was often kept by a sandglass rather than a clock. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of ship’s bells and nautical clocks.