Handbell; dril-bu

Greeb or dreebu (Monpa), dril-bu (Tibetan), a bronze handbell, cast in a mould. The brass handle is made in the form of half a five-pointed ritual sceptre dorjee (Monpa) rdo-rje (Tibetan), with a representation of a the crowned head of a goddess at its base. The bell also bears many symbolic motifs of Tibetan Buddhism. These include repeat patterns of ritual sceptres or thunderbolts within a border below the apex, above the flared rim, and around the waist of the bell between eight sea monsters' heads and strands of pearls. The clapper is tied to a ring within the bell with a strip of leather.