A Portuguese cowbell is an idiophone percussion instrument with a single internal clapper, usually worn around the neck of an animal. It is traditionally used by shepherds to locate and control their livestock and creates a distinctive soundscape in rural areas.
Traditional craftsmen make cowbells by hand, called 'Arte chocalheira'. The craft is centered in the small town of Alcáçovas, in the Arte chocalheira. It was once alive throughout Portugal but is only practiced in six municipalities today.
For more than 600 years, Portuguese craftsmen have made cowbells by hand. To create these cowbells, it takes many years to master all the components. Each cowbell is the result of skilled handiwork. These fire artists (blacksmiths and coppersmiths) make cowbells with a singular sound and a primary purpose, to get cows out of the pasture. Cowbell Masters Guilherme Maia and Francisco Cardoso operate the last remaining handmade cowbell factory in Portugal's cowbell capital, Chocolhas Pardalinho, founded in 1913 in Alcáçovas, one of the most important shepherding areas of the country.
The cowbells are made from cold-hammered iron that’s folded over an anvil until it is cup-shaped. Small pieces of copper or tin are enclosed around the iron, which are encased in a mixture of clay and straw. This piece is fired at 1300°C for about 45 minutes and then removed and rolled on the ground to spread the metal evenly. Once it is cooled, the cast is broken open, and polished, and the tone is fine-tuned to sound pleasant at a distance.
Today's cowbells aren't just for cows. Chocolhas Pardalhino makes many shapes and sizes. They are used for horses, goats, sheep, chickens, and even dogs. In the past, sheep used different types of bells, depending on the season. The greediest cow would use a "male bell", which was larger and had a deeper bass sound. In addition to their musically tuned products, they also offer ornamental products, suitable for your front porch, garden, or wall.
Techniques are transmitted from one generation to another, and skills involved are passed down through the family. Alcáçovas, Portugal, is the main center for the manufacture of cowbells. However, due to recent socioeconomic changes, this tradition is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Cowbells are increasingly made using cheaper industrial techniques as new grazing methods have reduced the need for shepherds. There are just 11 remaining workshops and 13 cowbell makers, nine of whom are over 70 years old.
Portuguese traditional craftsmen make cowbells by hand, called 'Arte chocalheira'. This craft is only still practiced in six municipalities today since it was once alive throughout Portugal. This craft is centered in the small town of Alcáçovas, the center of the Arte chocalheira. This Portuguese cowbell is an idiophone percussion instrument, which is hung around the neck of an animal with a single internal clapper. Sheepherders use these bells to control their livestock in rural areas, as well as create an unmistakable soundscape.
Portuguese fire artists (blacksmiths and coppersmiths) have been creating cowbells with a singular sound and a primary purpose, to get animals out of pasture, for more than 600 years. Three-generation Cowbell Masters Guilherme Maia and Francisco Cardoso operate the last remaining handmade cowbell factory in Portugal's cowbell capital, Chocolhas Pardalinho, founded in 1913 in Alcáçovas, one of the most important shepherding areas of the country.
In order to build these cowbells, it takes many years to master all the components. Each cowbell is the result of skilled handiwork. The cowbells are made from cold-hammered iron that’s folded over an anvil until it is cup-shaped. To enclose the iron, small pieces of copper or tin are placed, which are encased in a mixture of clay and straw. This piece is fired at 1300oC for about 45 minutes and then removed and rolled on the ground to spread the metal evenly. Once it is cooled, the cast is broken open, and polished, and the tone is fine-tuned to sound pleasant at a distance.
Today's cowbells aren't just for cows. Chocolhas Pardalhino makes many shapes and sizes. They are used for horses, goats, sheep, chickens, and even dogs. In the past, sheep used different types of bells, depending on the season. The greediest cow would use a "male bell", which was larger and had a deeper bass sound. In addition to their musically tuned products, they also offer ornamental products, equally suitable for your front porch, garden, or wall.
The techniques involved are transmitted from one generation to another, and the skills involved are passed down through the family. Alcáçovas, Portugal, is the main center for the manufacture of cowbells. However, due to recent socioeconomic changes, this tradition is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Cowbells are increasingly made using cheaper industrial techniques as new grazing methods have reduced the need for shepherds and with the introduction of new grazing methods, the need for shepherds has diminished considerably. There are presently just 11 remaining workshops and 13 cowbell makers, nine of whom are over 70 years old.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/manufacture-of-cowbells-01065) (https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2021-03-12/more-cowbell/58750) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Arte_chocalheira) |Subject=Art, Craftsmanship and Practices |Country=Portugal }}