This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
By the time this war trumpet was made, slaving in Africa was an industry matched only by the ivory trade. Yoweri Museveni, president of Uganda stated in 1998 “African chiefs were the ones waging war on each other and capturing their own people and selling them”. Tribal warfare had evolved, and its sole purpose was the capture of slaves for the market. As in Europe, signaling on the battlefield coordinated and directed the attack. The ivory war trumpet oliphant was the means of signaling. This example is 19” in length, painstakingly carved from an ivory tuck with open finial, which provided a two-note tone. The mouthpiece (embouchure) is carved in diamond form with a raised annular band. The bottom is slightly flattened so it may sit without rolling  It had a long career indicated by the typical shrink cracks, some with original native pitch repairs. There are remnants of scrimshaw applied by the owner, while idle, better described as doodling that art. They include a hut with chevrons above, and zig-zag lines. Its great use has imbued it with a wonderful mottled patina and great character which belies its sinister past. Virtually among the rarest of surviving accouterments of the slave trade. A superb example of African Art.

Items containing ivory cannot be shipped outside of the U.S. or in the states of CA, HI, IL, NV, NY, NJ, NH, OR, and WA.

Stock Number: A9727

$675.00

or $56.25 for 12 months. (How?)

Certificate of Authenticity

All items purchased from Faganarms are accompanied by a signed and dated Certificate of Authenticity with the name of the item and its unique item number for future reference.

Certificates are suitable for display with your item, and can easily be mounted in a 8½" x 5½" frame. Our certificates are printed on an acid free 65lb cardstock. This means your certification will not turn yellow or deteriorate over time.

AFRICAN SLAVER’S WAR TRUMPET, MID 19th CENTURY

Extended Payment Plans

Faganarms offers two types of payment plans to help you purchase this special piece for your collection.

Standard Payment Plan (4 Months)

For orders totaling $100 or more, our Standard Payment Plan is available to all of our customers. The total is split into 4 equal payments with the first payment required as a deposit. The balance will be due within 4 months, and your order will be shipped to you upon receipt of the final payment.

Pay just $168.75 today with 3 additional monthly payments of $168.75.

Extended Payment Plan (12 Months)

For orders totaling $600 or more, our Extended Payment Plan is available to all of our customers. The total is split into 12 equal monthly payments, with the first months payment being required as a deposit.

Pay just $56.25 today with 11 additional monthly payments of $56.25.

All payment plans are extended as a courtesy to our customers with no interest or fees.
It's important that the payment schedule be followed. Your order will be shipped upon receipt of final payment.

Learn More

You have questions? We have answers.

We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase, and we will do anything we can to make sure of it.
If you have any questions, please let us know, and we'll be happy to assist you.