Swedish cowhorn

11th century signal horn made of ivory on display in the Louvre in France.

The Swedish cowhorn (Swedish: kohorn or blåshorn) is a primitive musical instrument constructed from the natural horn of livestock. The instrument has no mouthpiece, and originally it also was lacking finger holes. Nowadays the cowhorn has from three to five holes. The cowhorn was used in the Swedish Fäbodskultur (a type of shepherds' culture), mostly by women, both for communication and for scaring animals, like wolves and bears. The bigger the cowhorn is, the easier it is to play.

See also

• Erkencho