Shofar
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Animal horn
Dimensions
Length-of tube 45.5 cm (17-15/16 in.), Diam. of bell- widest 5.6 cm
Classification
Aerophone-Lip Vibrated-horn
Culture
European
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number
89.4.373
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Musical Instruments, this19th-century *Shofar* exemplifies a simple yet profound aerophone—a lip-vibrated horn crafted from an animal horn. Measuring 45.5 cm in tube length with a bell diameter of 5.6 cm at its widest, its form is elegantly organic, shaped by nature and refined by human hand. Part of the esteemed Crosby Brown Collection acquired in 1889, it invites visitors to appreciate the tactile beauty of natural materials in musical artistry. Originating from European culture, this shofar reflects traditions where such horns serve...