Basset Horn in F
ca. 1800
Medium
Boxwood, brass, horn
Dimensions
L.: 95 cm (37-1/2); Diam. of bell (ovoid): 15 cm (6 in.); Mouthpiece: 8.3 cm (3-1/4 in.); Barrel: 7.2 cm (2-7/8 in.); Upper body section: 30.5 cm (12 in.); Replacement for elbow (actually a barrel): 6.7 cm (2-5/8 in.); Mid-body section: 13.8 cm (5-1/2 in.); 11.6 cm (4-7/8 in.); 15.1 cm (6 in.); 14.9 cm (5-7/8 in.)
Classification
Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
Culture
Slovenian
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number
89.4.2143
Art Historical Context
This basset horn in F, crafted around 1800 by Slovenian maker Simon Unglerth, represents a refined example of early nineteenth-century woodwind instrument design. Classified as a single-reed aerophone with a cylindrical bore, it was constructed primarily from boxwood, accented with brass fittings and a horn bell. The instrument’s elongated form—nearly a meter in length—allowed for a rich, mellow tone suited to chamber and orchestral settings of the period. Unglerth’s work highlights the skilled craftsmanship of Slovenian artisans, who contributed to the evolution of reed instruments during a ...