Israel
Jewish

Ram horn
Mid-20th century
Length: 28.5 in
Aerophones – Wind Instruments Proper – Lip Vibrated

This classic style shofar (shofarot) was made in Israel by Barsheshet-Ribak.  It consists of a ram’s horn that is closely coiled and heavily corrugated.  The ram’s horn of the Biblical time is the only ancient Jewish liturgical instrument that has survived the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 C.E. and is still in use today.  It is widely used for signaling symbolical Jewish occasions such as during the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).  When it is sounded, it is said to have the unique power to wake up the soul to the presence of its infinite source, and to renew a vision of the spiritual connection people are meant to build in this world.  The shofar is a ceremonial horn instrument that comes in an array of sizes, types of animal horns, lengths, and shapes, depending on a community’s tradition.

Resource: “The Shofar: Its History and Use.” Jeremy Montagu, Rowman & Littlefield. 2015 (ISBN 978-1-4422-5027-7)