Swan shaped ear trumpet

Brass swan-shaped ear trumpet, with ivory-like earpiece and very bulbous bell, made by S. Maw, Son & Sons Limited, London, c1900-1932.

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. They were most effective when someone spoke directly into them. Ear trumpets could be made in a variety of shapes and sizes and from a range of different materials.

S. Maw, Son and Sons were manufacturers of a wide range of medical instruments and pharmaceutical products.