Trumpet Maker

Despite the musical limitations of the horn, few instruments held such importance in the ancient world. Because of their arresting tone, horns served a vital function in signalling in battles, hunts, assemblies or rituals, and use in these situations conferred a level of prestige upon the object itself. Although the earliest horns were simple conch shells or hollowed-out animal horns, the societal importance of the instrument led to a gradual increase in the ostentatiousness of their design. A prime example of this is the carnyx, a tall metal instrument with a head in the shape of bellowing animal. This was designed to be heard above the clash of battle and featured heavily in Roman representations of barbarians.