Symbolism, The Trumpet

Come Ye Blessed Mourning Ribbon Slide Stuart Crystal Skeleton Cherub — “Come Ye Blessed” Memento Mori Slide with death, putti, trumpets on woven hair and silk.

The trumpet is quite often found in early modern jewellery, those of you who have mourning or sentimental pieces from the 17th century would more than likely have a piece with a cherub blowing a trumpet set under your faceted crystal. Quite a popular motif in the earlier days of the industry, but less so as the Neoclassical movement ushered in less direct symbols for death. So, the memento mori pieces would often have the cherub, the trumpet and a skeleton or depiction of death, but what more can we tell about it?

Resurrection is the main concept of its ideal symbol, but also when used in other contexts, victory (it’s hard not to think of a military fanfare without a trumpet) is the reason for the symbol. But also, there’s new life triumphing over death when used in some symbolism, but the concept of that is really the prerogative of the person who wore/commissioned it.

Trumpets are one of the earliest recorded musical instruments, so it’s not surprising to find that they have many uses in art history. Most commonly is the used as a symbol of heraldry, this when linked back with the cherub/angel symbols shows the arrival of the soul into heaven.

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