Virtual Tour of "Beethoven & Berlioz, Paris & Vienna: Musical Treasures from the Age of Revolution & Romance 1789-1848" Natural Trumpet in D by Johann Wilhelm Haas, Imperial City of Nürnberg, 1716-1723 NMM 5071.  Natural trumpet in D by Johann Wilhelm Haas, Imperial City of Nürnberg, 1716-1723. Engraved on bell garland: I W H / [rabbit facing left with back legs on the ground and front legs off the ground] / I. W. HAAS, Nor. Built of silver with gold trim, this elaborately decorated presentation instrument is engraved: Eberhardine Spiegel, Frey Frau / zum Desenberg, gebohrne Freyin / von Neuperg. / 1765, beneath two elaborate coats-of-arms at the beginning of the gold-plated bell flare. Flags, shields, drums, trumpets, and armor appear on four cast plaques of military design attached to the bell rim. Kettledrums, armor, and a mask in repoussé can be seen on the ball at the mid-point of the trumpet, the collars of which terminate in acanthus leaves. Besides the signature and master's mark engraved on the bell garland, a city inspection mark, N, is stamped next to a zigzag line, scraped into the bell, by which enough metal was removed to examine its alloy. This was a common method used in Nürnberg to examine and approve the quality of metal goods produced within the city. Ex coll.:  Edward H. Tarr, Rheinfelden-Eichsel, Germany. Arne B. & Jeanne F. Larson Fund; funds given by Helen & Robert D. Thorne, Walnut Creek, California, in memory of Grace L. Beede; and, funds given by Clifford & LaVonne Graese, Windermere, Florida, 1991. Additional Views of the Haas Trumpet Note:  Click on any image below to see a larger image Maker's Signature Details of Bell Flare Engraving, Including Coats-of-Arms and Presentation Text Eberhardine Spiegel, Frey Frau / zum Desenberg, gebohrne Freyin / von Neuperg. / 1765 The dedication engraving is of a higher quality than the garland engraving. Therefore, it is likely that the dedication was added in 1765 by a different professional engraver. Bell Rim and Garland Decoration Gold-plated garland with scallop shells embossed from the back, chased, and filed on the front. Four applied castings depict arms and armor, flags, trumpets, field drums, and kettle drums. Areas between the castings engraved with five-petal flowers, ribbons, beams, and one floral arrangement set in a vase. Nürnberg rim; wire embossed with leaf and dot pattern identical with NMM 3601 and 7212. Ferrules Helical, fluted ferrules, gold-plated, each ferrule end facing the bell serrated and engraved with beams and zigzag lines; the opposite end of each ferrule, facing the mouthpiece, decorated and stabilized with a thicker, cast wire. The smaller, decorative wires, bordering the fluted part of the ferrules, are identical with the bell-rim wire. Decorative Repoussé on Ball Cast ball decorated with arms, armor, trumpets, drums, and a mask. Inspection Mark and Zigzag Line The shape of the hallmark, N, is likely that of the punch that was in use in Nürnberg between 1716 and 1734, according to research conducted at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nürnberg. It does not resemble the marks used in the 1760s. A zigzag line was also scraped into the bell by means of which enough metal was removed to examine its alloy. This was a common method used in Nürnberg to examine and approve the quality of metal goods produced within the city. A similar marking can be seen on NMM 7213, a miniature natural horn by Johann Wilhelm Haas, Imperial City of Nürnberg, 1681. Views of Bell Interior The tab seam can be clearly seen in the image on the left. Measurements Internal diameter receiver:  12.2 mm; internal diameter minimum (at ca. 45 mm):  10 mm; bell diameter:  122-123 mm. Literature André P. Larson, Beethoven:  Musical Treasures from The Age of Revolution and Romance, with essays by John Eliot Gardner, William Meredith, and Gerhard Stradner, exhibition catalog, Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Santa Ana, California, January 30-March 21, 1999 (Santa Ana: The Bowers Museum, 1999), p. 14. André P. Larson, Beethoven & Berlioz, Paris & Vienna: Musical Treasures from the Age of Revolution & Romance 1789-1848, with essay by John Koster, exhibition catalog, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, September 12-November 2, 2003 (Vermillion: National Music Museum 2003), pp. 5 and 55.   Click arrow to continue Virtual Tour of Beethoven and Berlioz Exhibition Go to Beethoven and Berlioz Exhibition Virtual Tour Index Go to Virtual Gallery Tour Index Exhibition catalog and poster available from Gift Shop Go to Checklist of Natural Trumpets Made in the Imperial City of Nürnberg Before 1800 Go to Checklist of Brass Instruments Made Before 1800 National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 ©National Music Museum, 2007 Most recent update: October 22, 2007 You are the 1,555th visitor to this page since April 17, 2007. The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page