Alto Saxhorn in E-flat
ca. 1865–80
Medium
Brass, nickel-silver
Dimensions
Overall: 17.8 x 73.8cm (7 x 29 1/16in.)
Classification
Aerophone-Lip Vibrated-horn
Culture
American
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number
89.4.3127
Art Historical Context
The Alto Saxhorn in E-flat, created by American maker John Howard Foote around 1865–1880, represents a fine example of 19th-century brass instrument craftsmanship. Constructed from brass with nickel-silver fittings, the instrument measures roughly 17.8 by 73.8 centimeters and belongs to the aerophone family, where sound is produced through the vibration of the player’s lips against the mouthpiece. Its compact alto range made it well suited for ensemble playing. As part of the Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this saxhorn reflects the growing po...