Serinette
This small mechanical instrument has a hand crank that when operated pumps a bellows and turns a pinned barrel that activates windpipes to play a tune. Known as a serinette, such instruments were typically used to teach songs to birds.
Technical description: rectangular wood case enclosing barrel organ mechanism operated by turning crank extending from right side of front; wood barrel pinned with brass staples (8 tunes); 10 metal flue pipes; wedge-shaped bellows at front of case, mounted below wedge-shaped reservoir; pipes (at rear of case) sounded by stickers pressed down by levers above the barrel, in turn pressing valves in small windchest below pipes.
Technical description: rectangular wood case enclosing barrel organ mechanism operated by turning crank extending from right side of front; wood barrel pinned with brass staples (8 tunes); 10 metal flue pipes; wedge-shaped bellows at front of case, mounted below wedge-shaped reservoir; pipes (at rear of case) sounded by stickers pressed down by levers above the barrel, in turn pressing valves in small windchest below pipes.
Artwork Details
- Title: Serinette
- Date: early 19th century
- Geography: France
- Culture: French
- Medium: Wood, metal
- Dimensions: L. (along sides): 19.9. cm ( 7-7/8 in.); W. (across front): 26.1 cm (10-3/8 in.); H. (incl. lid): 15 cm (6 in.)
- Classification: Aerophone-Automatic
- Credit Line: Gift of Walter S. Poor, 1944
- Object Number: 44.127
- 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.
Courtois frères
1833
Alexandre Pere & Fils
1850–55
Johann Wilhelm Oberlender (the Elder)
mid-18th century
Alexander-François Debain
ca. 1860
Giosue Esposito
1881
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.