Ratchet
Unknown Artist
late 19th century
Medium
tin-plated iron
Dimensions
W. 2 13/16 (incl. can & frame) × D. (incl. can & spout) 3 1/2 × L. (incl. handle & can) 7 1/8 in. (7.2 × 8.9 × 18.2 cm)
Classification
Idiophone-Scraped
Culture
Cuban
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number
89.4.659
Art Historical Context
This intriguing ratchet, crafted in late 19th-century Cuba from humble tin-plated iron, exemplifies how everyday materials were transformed into vibrant musical tools. Measuring just over seven inches long, the compact instrument features a can-like body and handle designed for easy play. Its classification as a scraped idiophone its role in producing rhythmic through friction or striking, a technique deeply rooted in Caribbean musical traditions. As part of the Metropolitan Museum’s Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments—acquired in 1889—this piece offers a window into the resourcefu...