Soprano ophicleide in B-flat

Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax Belgian, active France

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 680

The ophicleide is a low brass instument that was used in bands and orchestras during the nineteenth century. It was replaced by the tuba.

In seeking to create a loud, low woodwind instrument, Adolphe Sax experimented with placing a bass clarinet mouthpiece on an ophicleide. This idea spawned the first saxophone.

Soprano ophicleide in B-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1814–1894 Paris), Brass, French

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Soprano ophicleide in B-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1814–1894 Paris), Brass, French
Soprano ophicleide in B-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1814–1894 Paris), Brass, French
Soprano ophicleide in B-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1814–1894 Paris), Brass, French

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.