Victorian Brass & Horn Dressing Gong

"Shall I ring the dinner gong, M'Lady?"

In a large Victorian household, mealtimes were taken very seriously. No one screamed through the halls "Come 'n' get it!", instead the butler rang a gong to alert the family and their guests that a meal was ready to be served.

Typically referred to as a dressing gong, it would be rung one hour before dinner was served as a warning for the family and their guests to go upstairs to bathe and dress for dinner. The gong was sounded again when dinner was served; it was also sounded earlier to announce luncheon, but never for breakfast which was self-service and would typically be available for more than two hours. 

As the grandest memento of those simpler, yet still quite complicated times, we are thrilled to present this majestic antique dressing gong. With the most opulent presence, the gong sits confidently on its base of ebonized wood adorned with silverplate corner mounts and a central shield hand-engraved with a cursive letter "M". Two dramatic horns form the supports for the lovely brass gong that hangs at center. This exceptional piece is complete with its wood and cork mallet and produces the most classic, sonorous gong sound. 

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. Gong measures overall 12.5"H x 16" x 6.75". The brass gong itself measures 7.5" in diameter while the Mallet is 12" in length.