Clarinet in C
John Ashton jr. (born in England ca. 1813, died Boston 6 March 1849) was a music publisher, musical instrument dealer and umbrella maker. (Waterhouse, NLI, 11.)
Overall size: 592
Bore: c-hole 13.0, f-hole 13.4.
Conical part: 167
Technical description: Dark stained boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. English-style ebony mouthpiece with a log tenon grooved for cord. English-style flask shaped barrel. The keys are mounted in round wooden rings, which is rather old-fashioned. Speaker liner projects almost to the centre of the bore. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a bell-shaped swelling. Zig-zag F♯3/C♯5 lever guided in a rudiment of a round turned wooden ring. Bevelled G♯3/E♭5 touchpiece.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: flat round.
Keymount type: turned wooden rings, swelling.
Inscribed on barrel, upper and lower section "J. ASHTON. / BOSTON.", on bell "eagle / J. ASHTON. / BOSTON. / C"
Playing accessories: one reed and a string (not original).
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Overall size: 592
Bore: c-hole 13.0, f-hole 13.4.
Conical part: 167
Technical description: Dark stained boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. English-style ebony mouthpiece with a log tenon grooved for cord. English-style flask shaped barrel. The keys are mounted in round wooden rings, which is rather old-fashioned. Speaker liner projects almost to the centre of the bore. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a bell-shaped swelling. Zig-zag F♯3/C♯5 lever guided in a rudiment of a round turned wooden ring. Bevelled G♯3/E♭5 touchpiece.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: flat round.
Keymount type: turned wooden rings, swelling.
Inscribed on barrel, upper and lower section "J. ASHTON. / BOSTON.", on bell "eagle / J. ASHTON. / BOSTON. / C"
Playing accessories: one reed and a string (not original).
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Artwork Details
- Title: Clarinet in C
- Maker: John Ashton Sr. or Jr.
- Date: 1820–44
- Geography: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Wood, brass, ivory
- Dimensions: L. 59.4 cm (23-3/8 in.)
- Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
- Credit Line: Purchase, Clara Mertens Bequest, in memory of André Mertens, 1990
- Object Number: 1990.222.3
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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