Orchestral Horn 1830 - 1840

This Orchestral Horn, by Tabard, is an object of great beauty, fashioned entirely from metal. Notice how the material is more than merely functional here; it's integral to the horn’s very existence. The shaping of brass requires great skill. The bell has been formed by hammering, the tubing painstakingly bent and brazed together. These processes are very specialized, demanding years of experience. The material also dictates the form of the horn – it’s no accident that the tubing is coiled to a precise degree, influencing the sound. There is also the etched decoration on the bell, which turns the object into a visual spectacle, as well as an instrument for music. It is a reminder that objects such as this one have always been valued both for their utility, and the ways in which they elevate us. It is a reminder that all making is, in a real sense, a form of culture.