A Rare & Very Large Antique Copper Narsinga, Narsingha or Narsingh Horn from Nepal or Tibet.

Folded size: 48 cm long

Extended size: 120cm long

End diameter: 15cm wide

Age: I believe it's likely to be early to mid 19th Century.

Description:

This is an amazing and rare item that has hung on a wall in my Farther’s old house for a very long time. It’s very old and needs a loving new home.

Use:

The Narsiṅgā is played historically in C shape in Nepal by Damai caste musicians in groups such as the damai baja. This form used in Nepal, Himachal Pradesh and southern Bihar. The Narasingha horn is also played by the Gawantaris (musicians) of the Udasi sect of Sikhism to inform the public about religious processions.

Construction & Materials:

It's made from thin sheets of copper with brass mouthpiece, joints & decoration. It consist of four pieces that can be extended and arranged in a semi circle ‘C’ shape.

Condition:

It's in a used condition but is complete and still works. It does have significant dents but no holes or tears in the thin copper. The decoration is still visible but worn in places as its ben extended and compacted many times over its long life. Thankfully it hasn't been polished and retains a lot of its original patina.

Information:

The narsinga (narsiga, ransingha, ramsinga, nansingha, nansinga or srnga: These are various modern and historical regional spellings) is a type of conical natural trumpet with an internal shallow bowl-shaped mouthpiece. The degree of curvature and length changes from region to region. This narsinga resembles a half-crescent moon and has a gradual conical bore expanding to the lower part. Some horns can be configured into an ’S’ shape. This horne is possibly from the eastern Bhojpur area of Nepal. It is made from sheets of copper, with brass rings. There is a tubular type of open brass bell at the end. It is played by buzzing the lips in the mouthpiece, much the same as playing a trumpet and it is played while standing or marching in a procession.

Resource: ‘Narsiga,’ Carol M. Babiracki, Mirelle Helffer/Gert-Matthias Wegner, Simonne Bailey, “The Grove Dictionary Musical Instrument,” 2nd ed., Vol 3. Laurence Libin, Editor in Chief. Oxford University Press.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/503976

Sale:

My step-mother was a natural wonder. She hailed from France but travelled the world and for a while worked in the film industry where she met my father. Over her lifetime she acquired a wonderful collection of folk & ethnic vintage jewellery as well as a collection of late 19th century Moroccan, Middle Eastern and Indian furniture. Sadly she passed away in 2019 and then my father followed her in 2021. My wife and I have held onto all these items but have concluded that its time to sell them on to someone who will treasure them once again. Please take a look at the other items I have for sale.