Een Vietnamese bronzen 'olifanten' hoorn of rhyton, Lê of Mạc Dynastie, 15/16e eeuw

L.: 24 cm

Condition: (UV-checked)
- Excellent, with typical minor superficial wear.

Provenance:
- The collection of Thomas Ulbrich, Studio Tho, Hanoi-Berlin.

As it could only produce one sound, the elephant horn was used as a war and hunting horn, for communications rather than for music. Carried by chiefs or a close follower, the horn would signal troops to rally, announce the approach of an enemy or prey or mark other important events.