18th Century Ear Trumpets

Last updated: Sep 17, 2025

• Diagram of ear trumpets by Frederick Deckers, 1710
• The Cockpit (Pit Ticket) by William Hogarth, 1759
• Grown Gentlemen taught to Dance, 1768
• A ladle-style ear trumpet, possibly c. 1770, from the Packington collection
• Sir Joshua Reynolds in The Academicians of the Royal Academy by Johan Joseph Zoffany, c. 1771-1772, and The Exhibition of the Royal Academy 1787 (see also the Royal Academy’s bio for Sir Joshua Reynolds)
  From The North American (July 15, 1791): “Dr. Johnſon, on being ſhewn his portrait by Sir Joſhua, repreſenting him as near ſighted, (which has ſince been engraved) was much offended—but it being repreſented to him that Sir Joſhua had painted his own ſimilitude with an ear trumpet. ‘He may paint himſelf as deaf as he pleaſes ſaid the Doctor, but I do not chuſe to be handed down to poſterity as Blinking Sam!’” (I can’t find a Reynolds self-portrait with an ear trumpet, but this anecdote may be describing this c. 1775 self-portrait.)
• Modern Moonshine, or the Wonders of Great Britain, 1774
• The Asylum for the Deaf by Paul Sandby, late 18th century
• Lady Huntington’s Chapel Bath, 1780s-1790s
• James Hutton, 1786
• Friends by the Ears, 1786
• A Pair of Pretty Ones, 1794
• Justice Mittimus at a Loss how to Act in this Affair, 1794
• About Your Business, 1795
• French General retiring, on account of their health, 1799
• Silver ear trumpet made in London in 1814
• National Trust 121393, a silver ear trumpet made in London in 1836-1837