Musical instrument, horn; carved in elephant ivory. Decorated throughout with geometric and figurative motifs in low relief. Rectangular aperture towards tip of horn on convex side of tusk. Key motifs from base upwards include: armillary sphere framed by characteristic Benin 'step' design; long-haired European man in profile blowing a long horn; Portuguese coat of arms. Upper end of horn decorated with band of interlocking lozenges.
Base and mouthpiece now missing.
Described in Beasley ledger in 1924 as having fittings: 'the silver gilt end & mouth piece of the early 17th cent. The lettering on the mouth piece probably represents the mottos of the Dukes of Burgundy 'AUOTRE NAURI' (none other).'
The 1959 register and line drawing also describes and illustrates the horn as having 'silver mounts at both ends'.
It is unknownn when these were removed.
By jhudson
02 Aug 2022