Horagai or Rappakai

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments the *Horagai or Rapp* is a striking 19th-century Japaneseophone crafted from the majestic shell of a triton (*Charonia tritonis*). Measuring 38.1 cm in height and 15.2 cm in width, lip-vibrated trumpet exemplifies the ingenuity of natural materials in traditional craftsmanship. The shell's natural spiral form is meticulously modified—typically by cutting the apex and adding a mouthpiece—to produce resonant tones, blending organic beauty with functional design. In Japanese culture, the horagai served as ...