Clarinet in C
Grenadilla, ivory, 13 silver keys. A variant of the English-style clarinet with a concealed connecting lever of the highest (speaker-) key. C was the main size used in nineteenth-century bands.
Samuel Graves (born New Boston/NH 1 July 1794; died Wells River/VT 18 November 1878) started as a woodwind maker during the early 1820s. From 1832 on his firm in Winchester/NH was called "Graves & Company" and produced woodwind instruments until ca. 1840. (Waterhouse, NLI, 145)
Overall size: 593
Bore: c-hole 13.1; f-hole 13.1.
Technical description: Granadilla with ivory ferrules and silver keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. Presumably original blackwood mouthpiece not grooved for cord, but designed for a ligature. Barrel and joints with brass sockets and tenons to be used as tuning slides. Concealed ring operating speaker key. All tone-holes under keys lined with German silver. Keys mounted in blocks which are all lined with German silver. Cross keys with oval touchpieces. Shaped thumb rest. Additional cross B♮₃/F♯₅. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a bell-shaped swelling. Guidance for F♯3/C♯5. A lot of pins to strengthen the wood. All ivory ferrules with a silver bevelled rim.13 keys, 2 silver rollers.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T; throat A♭.
L3: T; E♭4/B♭5.
L4: C♯4/G♯5; E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T; side F4/ C6; side trill key for throat A-B♮ and B♭-C.
R2: T; B♮3/F♯5.
R3: T; B♭3/F♮5; side B♮3/F♯5.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: saltspoon.
Keymount type: blocks, swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece "Graves & Co. / Winchester / N.H", on upper and lower section and on bell also "C".
Engraved on the keys with rollers, which were also very ne at the time: "J. B. Yale / Lee Mas."
Decorative features: Richly bevelled ferrules.
Playing accessories: one reed and cord.
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Samuel Graves (born New Boston/NH 1 July 1794; died Wells River/VT 18 November 1878) started as a woodwind maker during the early 1820s. From 1832 on his firm in Winchester/NH was called "Graves & Company" and produced woodwind instruments until ca. 1840. (Waterhouse, NLI, 145)
Overall size: 593
Bore: c-hole 13.1; f-hole 13.1.
Technical description: Granadilla with ivory ferrules and silver keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section, lower section, bell. Presumably original blackwood mouthpiece not grooved for cord, but designed for a ligature. Barrel and joints with brass sockets and tenons to be used as tuning slides. Concealed ring operating speaker key. All tone-holes under keys lined with German silver. Keys mounted in blocks which are all lined with German silver. Cross keys with oval touchpieces. Shaped thumb rest. Additional cross B♮₃/F♯₅. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a bell-shaped swelling. Guidance for F♯3/C♯5. A lot of pins to strengthen the wood. All ivory ferrules with a silver bevelled rim.13 keys, 2 silver rollers.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮.
L2: T; throat A♭.
L3: T; E♭4/B♭5.
L4: C♯4/G♯5; E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T; side F4/ C6; side trill key for throat A-B♮ and B♭-C.
R2: T; B♮3/F♯5.
R3: T; B♭3/F♮5; side B♮3/F♯5.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: saltspoon.
Keymount type: blocks, swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece "Graves & Co. / Winchester / N.H", on upper and lower section and on bell also "C".
Engraved on the keys with rollers, which were also very ne at the time: "J. B. Yale / Lee Mas."
Decorative features: Richly bevelled ferrules.
Playing accessories: one reed and cord.
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Artwork Details
- Title: Clarinet in C
- Maker: Graves & Company
- Date: ca. 1845
- Geography: Winchester, New Hampshire, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Grenadilla, ivory, silver
- Dimensions: L. 59.3 cm (23-3/8 in.) W. of case 25.8 cm (10-1/4 in.)
- Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
- Credit Line: Purchase, Gift of Barnard College, by exchange, 1997
- Object Number: 1997.55.1, .2
- 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.
Graves & Company
1830–50
Graves & Company
ca. 1830–40
Thomas Appleton
1830
Marcos Manufactory
late 19th century
Abraham Prescott
1825
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
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.