Surjoug - Sculpture, Bell - Popular Art - South-west Of France

Second half of the 19th century France - South-West Sublime overyoke entirely hand-carved, three levels of openings, linear frieze decorations, fitted with 3 bells, and a nailed stick. The subrejoug has several names: "surjoug", "béjouet", "suberjouet" and with a different spelling "bejoet" and "suberjoet", "yoke bell", "coupling chime", "cloquièr" or "cloquerot “The overyoke is a wooden object, elongated in shape, carved and worked by hand, placed in the center and above the yoke. It is an old, rare object of Celtic origin, very important in the agricultural world of the past in the South of Toulouse, and very little known. There have been some elsewhere, but this is where it has existed the longest, and where it has undergone the greatest stylistic evolution. The over-yoke, placed on a central rod on the yoke, allows it to be balanced, forcing the harnessed cattle to maintain a good working position and improving their productivity. It is also a decorative object, intended to show the virtuosity of its author and an object of pride for its owner. Originally, it had a more or less sacred function, protection and fertility. It is a musical object because it emits sounds, thanks to the bells located in a central cavity. The sounds are made when the cattle moves. It gives rhythm to the step (like the drum for the troops). Good general condition, traces of wood pitting, but fully treated. Dimensions: Height: 58 cm