Clarinet in C
Medium
Boxwood, brass, ivory
Dimensions
L. 58.8 cm (23 in.)
Classification
Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
Culture
American
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The Barrington Foundation Inc. and Robert Alonzo Lehman Gifts, 1995
Accession Number
1995.369.1
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 19th-century American music with this exquisite *Clarinet in C*, by Boston makers John R. Nickels Alfred G. Badger between1839 and 1841. Fashioned from finely turned boxwood—a lightweight, resonant wood prized for wind instruments—the clarinet features brass keys and ivory fittings, blending functionality with elegant craftsmanship. Measuring 58.8 cm (23 in.) in length, its slender, cylindrical form exemplifies the single-reed aerophone design, where a vibrating reed produces a rich, versatile tone capable of soaring melodies and warm lows. This instrument reflects the ...
About the Artist
John R. Nickels|Alfred G. Badger (American|American) · 1838 |1815 –1848 |1892
American, active Buffalo, 1838–44|American, Connecticut 1814/15–1892 Brooklyn, New York