This beautiful brass French horn is called a Trompe Dauphin. The elegant form of the hunting horn was given the name “trompe Dauphin” because it was adopted as the official hunting horn of the French court the year the Dauphin, future King Louis XV, was born.
Horns like this were central to the elaborate and famed hunt at Versailles. The long tube length of the trompe Dauphin (16 foot D) could produce at least 16 notes of the harmonic series, which enabled huntsmen to play a repertoire of intricate calls to keep members of the hunting party apprised of events unfolding in the field. The trompe was also played to entertain listeners before and after the hunt. The sophisticated design and melodic capabilities of these French instruments gave rise to the development of the horn as a musical instrument. Because of the importance of the hunt as a reflection of wealth and noble status, stylized horns were often employed as decorative motifs .
Dans son jus (as found).
