Images from The Utley Virtual Gallery Natural Trumpet in D by Johann Wilhelm Haas, Imperial City of Nürnberg, ca. 1710-1720 Front                                          Side NMM 7212. Natural trumpet in D by Johann Wilhelm Haas, Imperial City of Nürnberg, ca. 1710-1720. Five-piece brass body, held together by five ferrules of alternating length (long, short, long, short, long) and a wooden block with red binding and tassels. Overlapping tab seam (width of tabs 3 mm at a distance of 3 mm). Nürnberg rim, wire embossed with leaf and dot pattern. Joe R. and Joella F. Utley Collection, 1999. Master's Mark Engraved on bell garland: IOHANN / WILHELM / HAAS / NURNBERG and [forward leaping hare facing left] IWH The master's mark, a leaping hare facing left and hinting at the maker’s name (Hase = hare), identifies the instrument to be the product of Johann Wilhelm Haas (1649-1723), the founder of the most famous Nürnberg trumpet workshop. The trumpet bears no date of manufacture. Since Haas made virtually no design changes during his career, the instrument could have been made anytime between 1676 and 1723. The city inspection mark, N, approving good quality, is stamped on the garland next to the wire affixing the first bow. Ferrules Helical fluting ferrules of folded sheet metal, surrounded by two embossed wire rings (similar to the bell wire), impressed and engraved lines, and one embossed ring of larger size. The ferrule edge facing the bell is serrated to fit tight against the tubing. Bell Garland Garland decorated with scallop shells (outlines punched from the front and raised with spherical punch from the back) and four cast angel heads with broad wings. Engraved tulip Engraved pomegranate The angel heads divide the garland into four sections; the fields in between are engraved with the signature, the maker's mark, a tulip, and a pomegranate with leaves (clockwise). Ball Cast ball with three male faces soldered onto a sheet metal sleeve with serrated edges and engravings in flame and beam pattern. An African A European The three figures on the ball show distinct physiognomies:  one has a broad nose, fleshy lips and curly hair, apparently representing an African (left); the other two have pointed head gear and a beard and seem to represent Europeans (right). These figures presumably symbolize the three Wise Men from the East, adoring the infant, Jesus. They supplement the angels that decorate the garland. Side view of cast ball Accessories Brass mouthpiece with deep cup (not original). Shanks and crooks missing. Measurements Sounding length:  2180 mm; internal diameter receiver: 11.7 mm; internal diameter receiver minimum (at ca. 26 mm): 10.9 mm; bell diameter: 112 mm. Literature Sabine Klaus, "Haas & Haas: A Miniature Horn and a Natural Trumpet from the Most Famous Nürnberg Workshop," America’s Shrine to Music Museum Newsletter 28, No. 2 (May 2001), pp. 4-5.   Click arrow to continue Utley Virtual Gallery Tour Go to Utley Virtual Gallery Tour Index Go to Virtual Gallery Tour Index Go to Checklist of European Brass Instruments Made Before 1800 Go to Checklist of Natural Trumpets Made in the Imperial City of Nürnberg Before 1800 National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD   57069 ©National Music Museum, 2004-2008 Most recent update:   October 23, 2008 You are the 1,262nd visitor to this page since August 6, 2004. The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page