Swan-shaped ear trumpet

Swan-shaped ear trumpet, with engraved brass body and ivory earpiece, similar in style to the 'London dome' design, made by F. C. Rein & Son, London, 1801-1900.

Much like cupping your hand around your ear, an ear trumpet helps to direct sound to the ear and provides some shelter from background noise. F. C. Rein & Son were one of the main manufacturers of ear trumpets in the UK and they made a variety of shapes and sizes. Their ear trumpets were also made of a range of materials and were sold at various price points. They mostly sold ear trumpets in person from their London shop and encouraged customers to try several models to see what suited them best.