Clarinet in C

ca. 1800
Not on view
Overall size: 618
Bore: c-hole 13.0; f-hole 13.5
Conical part: 220

Technical description: Boxwood with ivory ferrules and silver keywork. Five pieces: Mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, middle section for the fingers of the right hand, lower section with keys and integral bell. Unstamped ebony mouthpiece grooved for cord. Speaker and throat A keys mounted in turned wooden square rings with guide lines. Speaker liner does not project into the bore, but has a small chimney instead. Some pins to prevent the wood from cracking. Bascule key mounted in a block. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a fusiform swelling. No guidance for straight F♯3/C♯5 key. 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 square.
Keymount type: turned wooden rings, block, swelling.
No inscriptions.
Playing accessories: One reed and a cord (not original)
(Heike Fricke, 2014)

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Clarinet in C
  • Maker: Unknown , France
  • Date: ca. 1800
  • Geography: France
  • Culture: French
  • Medium: Boxwood, ebony, silver, ivory
  • Dimensions: Length 61.6 cm (24 1/4 in.)
  • Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Robert Alonzo Lehman Bequest, 2003
  • Object Number: 2003.187
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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