Switzerland
Unknown

Wood
Mid-20th century
Wind Instruments – Brasswinds – Natural Horns/Orchestral Horns

This Alpine horn is classified as a ‘labrophone,’— a lip-vibrating instrument.  It consists of a natural wooden horn of conical bore, having a wooden cup-shaped mouthpiece and is used by mountain dwellers in Switzerland and elsewhere.  Wooden horns were used as signal horns by the herdsmen to call their cattle in the most mountainous regions of Europe, from French Switzerland to the Carpathians.  They also served in some areas to summon to church and formerly to war. This is a rare circular alphorn.