Cavalry Trumpet in C
ca. 1800
Medium
Brass, nickel-silver
Dimensions
7 13/16 × 4 5/8 × 16 1/8 in. (19.8 × 11.7 × 41 cm) Diameter (Of bell): 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)
Classification
Aerophone-Lip Vibrated-trumpet / trombone
Culture
French
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number
89.4.1102
Art Historical Context
This elegant Cavalry Trumpet in C, crafted around 1800 by the French maker Courtois père, reflects the refined brass-instrument tradition of early nineteenth-century France. Designed for military use, the instrument’s compact, coiled form allowed cavalry riders to sound clear calls across the battlefield while on horseback. Its designation “in C” indicates the fundamental pitch, a practical choice for ensemble playing with other wind instruments of the period. Made of brass with nickel-silver fittings, the trumpet combines resonant tone with durability and a subtle gleam that would have caugh...