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Clarinet in B-flat

1830
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 684
The ivory body of this clarinet and its ornate gold plated keys suggest that it was a special commission or presentation piece. Its bell proclaims Sax’s status as musical instrument maker to the court of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This instrument is also distinguished by its early use of Ivan Müller’s improved thirteen-key system, which became the preferred choice of most clarinet players until the beginning of the twentieth century.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Clarinet in B-flat
  • Maker: Charles Joseph Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1790–1865 Paris)
  • Date: 1830
  • Geography: Brussels, Belgium
  • Culture: Belgian
  • Medium: Ivory, brass, gold-plated silver
  • Dimensions: 26 1/2 × 3 3/8 × 3 3/8 in. (67.3 × 8.6 × 8.6 cm)
  • Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
  • Credit Line: Funds from various donors, 1953
  • Object Number: 53.223
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

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Tenor (Alto) Ophicleide in E-flat, Charles Joseph Sax Belgian, Brass, Belgian
Tenor (Alto) Ophicleide in E-flat
Charles Joseph Sax
ca. 1845
Tenor (Alto) Ophicleide in E-flat, Charles Joseph Sax Belgian, Brass, Belgian
Tenor (Alto) Ophicleide in E-flat
Charles Joseph Sax
ca. 1825–65
Fanfare Trumpet
Charles Joseph Sax
before 1865
Cor omnitonique, Charles Joseph Sax Belgian, Brass, Belgian
Cor omnitonique
Charles Joseph Sax
1833
Cornet à Pistons in B-flat, Courtois frères, Brass, touch pieces of ivory, French
Cornet à Pistons in B-flat
Courtois frères
1833

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