Switzerland Cow Bell

A cow bell is a bell worn by freely roaming livestock, so they don't run away without being heard. While bells were used on various types of animals, they are typically referred to as "cowbells" due to their extensive use with cattle.


This red metal cow bell was added to my collectibles in the year 2007 by my colleague, Pi Yao who claims that 80% of my collectibles (excluding what have been bought by my daughters) came from her. Um, may be she's right.

The Liberty Bell

A huge bronze bell located in The Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is one of the most prominent symbols of the American Revolutionary War. It symbolizes freedom and independence within the United States and has been described as an icon of liberty and justice.

The bell was originally called the State House Bell or the Province Bell. The bell was first called the Liberty Bell around 1839 by abolitionist (anti-slavery) publications.

Inscriptions on the Bell: Across the top of the bell is the inscription, "PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF LEV. XXV X." This is a quote from the Old Testamentent of the Bible, Leviticus chapter 25, verse 10. Under this reads, "BY ORDER OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE PROVINCE OF PENSYLVANIA [sic] FOR THE STATE HOUSE IN PHILADA." Lower on the bell are the inscriptions, "PASS AND STOW," the last names of the founders who cast the bell (John Pass and John Stow). Beneath this is "PHILADA," short for Philadelphia. The lowest inscription is the Roman numerals MDCCLIII (1753), the year the bell was re-cast.

During my training in New York in October 2001, a former Officer in my section, Ms. Elsa C. Lorenzo was kind enough to take me and ESCAP team to visit Philadelphia. Out of the four bells that I bought, I keep two of them. My first bells collectibles.

Thank you Elsa, the bells always remind me of your kindness.

Learn more: The Liberty Bell

The Barcelos Rooster Ring Bell

Why the Rooster on top?

The Barcelos Rooster Ring Bell is a unique good luck gift. The Barcelos Rooster has become a national symbol of Portugal. It symbolises "The winning of justice when you fight for it". The legend is many hundred years old. There are serveral versions of the legend.

A young man was sentenced to death for a crime he didn't commit. He swore he was innocent but no one believed him. Before he was hung, he made his last wish to meet his judge.

The young man went to see the judge and the judge even served him a fried rooster. Again he swore his innocence. All of the sudden, he lifted his right hand's two swear fingers and bursted out "By the Virgin Mary and the Holy John, I once again swear that I am innocent. If I lie, the rooster on that tray will stay where it is, but if I am telling the truth, it will rise and crow". Right after his words, the rooster was in its earlier feathers, standing up and crowing so it was heard all over Barcelos. The young man was immediately released.

I don't remember how I got this. No one gave it to me. My daughters didn't buy it. I asked my husband if someone gave it to him. He couldn't recall at all. So, there's a possibility that it belonged to my grandma who was also a Portugese. I took few things from her house years after she passed away.