Side-blown trumpet, Shilluk (attributed), Sudan HIGHLIGHTS • Rustic side-blown wooden trumpet • Old skin binding at the lower end • Deep old patina, partly crusted • Simple and highly authentic form • Strong ethnographic presence • No stand DETAILS Origin: Shilluk (attribution), Sudan Materials: Wood, skin Dimensions: Length: 41.5 cm Period: 20th century Stand: None DESCRIPTION INTRODUCTION A small side-blown wooden trumpet attributed to the Shilluk of Sudan, notable for its austere tapered form, old skin binding and deeply aged surface. Modest and rustic in appearance, it nevertheless has a strong ethnographic presence. FORM AND CONSTRUCTION The instrument is carved as a long tapering tube with a lateral embouchure cut near the upper section. Its severe silhouette is reinforced by the absence of added decoration. At the lower end, an old skin binding remains in place, recalling practical reinforcement or mounting. CONTEXT Exact published parallels for this precise type are not easy to locate, but comparable African side-blown trumpets are documented in museum collections. The British Museum records a wooden trumpet with snake-skin and fibre, while the Pitt Rivers Museum describes a side-blown wooden trumpet fitted with sections of reptile or snake skin. These parallels support a cautious reading of this object within a wider northeastern / east-central African horn and trumpet tradition. SURFACE AND CONDITION The surface shows a very old dark patina, with encrusted areas, wear and age-related irregularities consistent with long use and exposure. The object remains visually coherent and expressive in its present state. CONDITION Condition consistent with age and use. Old patina with encrusted surface in places. Wear, abrasions and small losses consistent withage. No stand.