Ritual Bell with Hanuman and Garuda

This is an unusual, lost wax cast bronze ritual bell with Hanuman and Garuda, from North Karnataka or Maharashtra. On the handle, are back-to-back Hanuman and Garuda, both holding their hands in devotion. Garuda is known as a protector with power to swiftly go anywhere, ever watchful and an enemy of the serpent. Hanuman is known for his strength, a protector of towns and villages, wrestlers and acrobats, but he is also famous for being an exemplary devotee.
The ancient art of lost-wax casting dates back nearly 6000 years in India, and the oldest example in the world is from the Indus Valley Civilization. First, an artist creates an original model from wax. Everything is then encased with layers of clay, thus becoming a mould for the molten metal that will be poured inside it. When this is poured in, the wax melts and the original is lost. Once the metal hardens, the outer layer of clay is smashed, which is what makes each piece unique.