Shell Trumpet
ClassificationsTools and Equipment-musical instruments-trumpets
Date20th Century
Made AtPapua New Guinea
MediumShell
Dimensions6 × 12 × 5 in. (15.2 × 30.5 × 12.7 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Danny and Anne Shih
Object number2014.15.17
DescriptionThis shell once housed a large marine snail. Shells such as this were used as trumpets. The most frequent use of shell trumpets in Papua New Guinea was as signaling instruments. The trumpet would be blown to alert individuals and inhabitants of islands of the return of groups of men who had left their homes for raiding, exploring, etc. They were also used to signal the approach of a hostile group of travelers. Only one tone can be created by blowing into the hole on this trumpet. As such, signals were sent in the form of different rhythmic codes. These codes included various long and short notes that were grouped together in various different ways.On View
Not on viewCollections
early to mid 20th Century
18th to 19th Century
late 19th to early 20th Century
1956-1959
c. 1840
