Serpent. Nominal pitch: 8-ft C.

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Alternative Title

Serpent.

Instrument

Serpent

Instrument Family

Wind

Place Made

England ; Europe ; United Kingdom

Date Made

Mid 19th Century

Description

Overall size: 703 Bore: distal end of crook 20.0; bell internal diameter 97 106. Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 12.7 not tapered. Technical description: papier maché ?, painted black. Brass crook and brass ferrules on crook receiver and bell. Six finger holes (in two close spaced groups of three as normal), with protruding ivory bushings; three keys: two on front (for L1 and R4), in each case controlling a tone hole above the corresponding group of finger holes; the third key on back (for R0) controlling a lower tone hole; chimneys on each keyed tone hole. no inscriptions. Decorative features: scalloped edges on ferrules. Restored by Christopher Monk c 1985 who stripped a previous repair, filled and strengthened a broken area with papier maché, patched surface where weak, sealed inside and outside, renewed all three key pads, fitted a new spring to the B_ key, made new crook, and reamed out mouthpipe to fit it. Further repaired by Keith Rogers (Christopher Monk Workshops) in 2000 who mended a break in the top piece, made a new stay, replaced steel screws with brass, and strengthened a weak patch below the foot of the stay. Mouthpieces (4572) and (4573) supplied for use with this instrument. Specific literature references: Puttick and Simpson's auction catalogue 25 April 1946, lot 81. Specific usage history: On display in Quakers Friars Museum of Music, Bristol, c 1988 c 1992; played by donor from c 1992 to 2004.

Other Information

Specific usage history: On display in Quakers Friars Museum of Music, Bristol, c 1988 - c 1992; played by donor from c 1992 to 2004.

Notes

R. Parks, 22.10.05.

Measurements

703

Provenance

ex- Nettlefold Collection. ; Gift of Martin Brett.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

4571

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