Clarinet in E-flat
The Buffet family originated from La Couture, which was a city focussing on instrument making. The brothers Denis (born La Couture 28 July 1783; Buffet-Auger) and Louis August (born La Couture, 6 Aug 1789; died Anet, 30 Sept 1864; Buffet jeune) had independent workshops in Paris. In 1825 Denis Buffet set up his workshop in Paris, his brother did so in 1830. Denis’ son Jean-Louis (born La Couture, 18 July 1813; died Paris, 17 April 1865) gradually took over the business after 1830. After 1844 it took the name Buffet Crampon.
Overall size: 493
Bore: c-hole 12.8; f-hole 12.8.
Conical part: 103
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. French style ebony mouthpiece to use with a ligature. Speaker liner projects ca. 4mm into the bore. Speaker, throat A and C♯4/G♯5 key mounted in pillars on plates. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a fusiform swelling. No guidance for F♯3/C♯5 lever.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: C♯4/G♯5; E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: salt spoon.
Keymount type: pillars on plates and swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece and middle section: star / "BUFFET / A PARIS" / star. The keys as well as the mouthpiece are marked with five parallel lines.
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Overall size: 493
Bore: c-hole 12.8; f-hole 12.8.
Conical part: 103
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. French style ebony mouthpiece to use with a ligature. Speaker liner projects ca. 4mm into the bore. Speaker, throat A and C♯4/G♯5 key mounted in pillars on plates. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a fusiform swelling. No guidance for F♯3/C♯5 lever.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T.
L3: T.
L4: C♯4/G♯5; E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: salt spoon.
Keymount type: pillars on plates and swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece and middle section: star / "BUFFET / A PARIS" / star. The keys as well as the mouthpiece are marked with five parallel lines.
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Artwork Details
- Title: Clarinet in E-flat
- Maker: probably Denis Buffet
- Date: 1825–30
- Geography: Paris, France
- Culture: French
- Medium: Boxwood, ivory, brass
- Dimensions: L. 49.3 cm (19-1/2 in.)
- Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
- Credit Line: Gift of William J. Maynard, 1997
- Object Number: 1997.219.14
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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