Miniature Natural Horn - Image 1

This miniature horn was built in the year that Wolf Wilhelm Haas (1681-1760), the youngest son of the maker, was born. Unlike the custom elsewhere in Europe, it was common in Nürnberg for the youngest son, not the oldest, to take over the father’s profession. So, it was Wolf Wilhelm who would perpetuate Johann Wilhelm Haas’s workshop and its fame. It is a striking coincidence that the miniature instrument was built in the year 1681; probably it was a gift of the father to his youngest son to honor his birth or baptism. The miniature horn’s appearance is equivalent to that of trumpets made for the court, being of solid silver with highlights in gold plate. Perhaps it was designed to reflect the importance of the family – in miniature – just as richly decorated trumpets of precious metals reflected the importance of court households.