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Soprano ophicleide in B-flat

Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax Belgian, active France
mid-19th century
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Soprano ophicleide in B-flat
  • Maker: Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1814–1894 Paris)
  • Date: mid-19th century
  • Geography: France
  • Culture: French
  • Medium: Brass
  • Dimensions: 25 11/16 × 6 13/16 × 11 1/2 in. (65.2 × 17.3 × 29.2 cm)
  • Classification: Aerophone-Lip Vibrated
  • Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
  • Object Number: 89.4.2306
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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Ceramic Horn, Glazed pottery, French
French
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Contrabass Valve Ophicleide in D, Leopold Uhlmann  Austrian, Brass, nickel-silver, Austrian
Leopold Uhlmann
ca. 1840
Cornet à Pistons in B-flat, Courtois frères, Brass, touch pieces of ivory, French
Courtois frères
1833
Fanfare trumpet in E-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax  Belgian, active France, Brass, French
Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax
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