Clarinet in C
The Astor workshop was established in London by the two brothers Georg (George) Peter Astor (born Waldorf/Heidelberg, Germany, 28 April 1752; Died London December 1813) and Johann (John) Jacob Astor (born Waldorf 17 July 1763; died New York 28/29 March 1848) around 1780. In 1783 John Jacob left for Baltimore. The workshop was at the address 79 Cornhill between 1797/8 and 1814. (Waterhouse, NLI, 12).
Overall size: 590
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. Long tenon ebony mouthpiece grooved for cord. English-style flask shaped barrel. Speaker liner projects almost to the centre of the bore. Pins at the blocks in order to avoid 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 rudiment of a round ring.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T; trill key for throat A-B♮.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: flat square.
Keymount type: blocks and swelling.
Inscribed on upper section crown / "C / ASTOR & Co. / 79 / CORNHILL / LONDON" / unicorn head; on bell unicorn head / ASTOR & Co. / 79 / CORNHILL / LONDON"; on middle and lower section "ASTOR & Co. / LONDON" / unicorn head; on barrel "ASTOR & Co. / LONDON". Playing accessories: a boxwood reed-cap
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Overall size: 590
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. Long tenon ebony mouthpiece grooved for cord. English-style flask shaped barrel. Speaker liner projects almost to the centre of the bore. Pins at the blocks in order to avoid 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 rudiment of a round ring.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T; trill key for throat A-B♮.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: flat square.
Keymount type: blocks and swelling.
Inscribed on upper section crown / "C / ASTOR & Co. / 79 / CORNHILL / LONDON" / unicorn head; on bell unicorn head / ASTOR & Co. / 79 / CORNHILL / LONDON"; on middle and lower section "ASTOR & Co. / LONDON" / unicorn head; on barrel "ASTOR & Co. / LONDON". Playing accessories: a boxwood reed-cap
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Artwork Details
- Title: Clarinet in C
- Maker: Astor & Co. (1778–1831)
- Date: ca. 1800–1814
- Geography: London, England, United Kingdom
- Culture: British
- Medium: Boxwood, ivory, brass
- Dimensions: L. 59.3 cm (23-3/8 in.)
- Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
- Credit Line: Gift of William J. Maynard, 1997
- Object Number: 1997.219.11
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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