Steerhorn, brass. Adjustable tuning shank with tension screw fitting. Mouthpiece is silver plated and stamped: Conn-Innes. Stamp on bell reads: C. MAHILLON & CO./LONDON, five pointed star appears above and below inscription. The number 3079 is stamped beneath lower star.
Instruments made from cow's horns have a long association with hunting and herding where they are used as signalling devices. The brass steerhorn is designed to imitate the sound of cow horn instruments and is used in a number of Wagner's operas to represent hunters or the calls of night watchmen. This instrument belonged to Henry Wood, the founder of the Promenade concerts. In the early years of the Proms, the Monday night concert was often devoted to Wagner's music. This instrument was probably used at these events and would have provided an atmospheric addition to the orchestra in music from Götterdämmerung and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
