A LARGE CONCH SHELL TRUMPET, HORAGAI, EDO PERIOD
This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve

Japan, 1615-1868, circa 17^th to mid-18^th century. Crafted from a naturally formed seashell of creamy-white color marked with brown and russet patches, the body encircled by numerous ridged striations, the blowing hole lined in metal, a leather cord affixed to the upper edge.

Provenance: The Collection of Sam and Myrna Myers, Paris, France. Acquired between circa 1965-2012.
Condition: Overall good condition with old wear, traces of use, manufacturing irregularities, cracks and fissures with associated repairs, obvious losses, one side with an old metal fill probably inherent to the manufacture.

Weight: 1,221 g
Dimensions: Length 33.4 cm

Horagai are large conch shells, usually from Charonia tritonis, that have been used as trumpets in Japan for many centuries. The instrument, which has served a number of purposes throughout Japanese history, has been given a number of Japanese names depending on its function. Special schools still teach students to play the traditional music associated with the conch.

The conch is used by Buddhist monks for religious purposes. Its use goes back at least 1,000 years, and it is still used today for some rituals, such as the omizutori (water drawing) portion of the Shuni-e rites at the Tōdai-ji in Nara. Each Shugendō school has its own conch shell melodies. The horagai is especially associated with the Yamabushi, ascetic monks of the Shugendō tradition. The yamabushi used the trumpet to signal their presence (or movements) to one another across mountains and to accompany the chanting of sutras.

Did you know?
The conch shell is known as fanbei in Chinese and was considered a rare treasure in ancient times, with a long history of use in religious ceremonies. It is a common instrument in various ancient Indian religions and, most notably, in Buddhism. Legend has it that when the Buddha Shakyamuni first turned the Wheel of Law in the Deer Park, Śakra (the ruler of Heaven) offered him a right-turning white conch as reward. Since then, the conch has been widely used in the transmission of Buddhism as a symbol of auspiciousness and perfection. Images of conch shells can often be seen in Buddhist temples, on Dharma seats, and in the hands of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism. Making up one of the Eight Auspicious Signs (bajixiang) in Tibetan Buddhism, the conch not only symbolizes auspiciousness and perfection but also – due to its ability to produce a sound that gathers monks – the voice of the Buddha himself. Symbolizing the dissemination of Buddhist teachings across the world for the salvation of all beings, the present conch is more than just an object of beauty and history; it stands as a symbol of religious devotion and belief in a brighter tomorrow. See a Chenghua-period ritual conch trumpet, with an inscription dating it to 1478, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 29 October 2024, lot 1511.

A shell trumpet is a type of wind instrument crafted from the conch of large marine gastropods. These shells possess a natural conical bore, which enables them to produce a resonant musical tone when blown. Shell trumpets have been found across diverse cultures and regions, including East and South Asia, the Pacific Islands, and South America. Traditionally, the player blows into the shell in a manner similar to a horn or trumpet. In some instances, an unmodified shell is employed, while in others a mouth hole is carefully cut into the apex. To facilitate playing, wooden, bamboo, or metal mouthpieces are sometimes inserted. The musician uses embouchure to excite the air column within the shell, thereby generating notes from the harmonic series. Historically, shell trumpets were valued not primarily as instruments for musical ensembles, but as signaling devices. Their powerful, far-carrying sound made them effective tools for communication over long distances.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related Japanese conch shell trumpet dated to the Edo period in the Penn Museum, Philadelphia, object number 51-46-75. Compare a related Indian shell trumpet, dated late 19th century, 38.1 cm long, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 89.4.1763. Compare a related Indian shell trumpet, 17 cm long, in the British Museum, registration number As1972,Q.316.