Clarinet in C
Richard Bilton claimed himself ‘late apprentice and foreman to Cramer’ and traded from 93 Westminster Bridge Road, London, between 1826 and 1856. (Waterhouse, NLI, 32)
Overall size: 583
Bore: c-hole 13.4; f-hole 13.6
Conical part: 106
Technical description: Boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Six pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, middle section for the fingers of the right hand, lower section with keys, bell. Ebony, English socket type mouthpiece grooved for cord. English style tenon-type barrel. Speaker liner projects almost to the centre of the bore. Blocks pinned in order to prevent the wood from cracking. 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 block.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T; E♭4/B♭5.
L4: E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T; trill key for throat A-B♮.
R2: T; B♮3/F♯5.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: flat round
Keymount type: rudiments of turned wooden rings, blocks, swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece: "BILTON / LONDON" / unicorn head; on bell also "93 WESTMINSTER / BRIDGE ROAD"
Playing accessories: one reed and a cord (not original).
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Overall size: 583
Bore: c-hole 13.4; f-hole 13.6
Conical part: 106
Technical description: Boxwood with ivory ferrules and brass keywork. Six pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, middle section for the fingers of the right hand, lower section with keys, bell. Ebony, English socket type mouthpiece grooved for cord. English style tenon-type barrel. Speaker liner projects almost to the centre of the bore. Blocks pinned in order to prevent the wood from cracking. 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 block.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T; E♭4/B♭5.
L4: E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T; trill key for throat A-B♮.
R2: T; B♮3/F♯5.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: flat round
Keymount type: rudiments of turned wooden rings, blocks, swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece: "BILTON / LONDON" / unicorn head; on bell also "93 WESTMINSTER / BRIDGE ROAD"
Playing accessories: one reed and a cord (not original).
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Artwork Details
- Title: Clarinet in C
- Maker: Richard Bilton (active 1826–1856)
- Date: ca. 1825–50
- Geography: London, England, United Kingdom
- Culture: British
- Medium: Boxwood, ivory, brass
- Dimensions: L. 58.5 cm (23-1/8 in.)
- Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
- Credit Line: Gift of William J. Maynard, 1997
- Object Number: 1997.219.5
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Richard Bilton
Charles Pace
mid to late 19th century
Érard
George Henry Blake
ca. 1840
Charles Joseph Sax
1830
Thomas Prowse
1832–68
Charles Wheatstone
ca. 1835
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.