Serpent. Nominal pitch: 8-ft C.

Metzler & Son

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Instrument

Serpent

Instrument Family

Wind

Maker

Metzler & Son

Place Made

England ; Europe ; London ; United Kingdom

Date Made

Circa 1825

Description

Overall size: 708. Bore: Bell internal diameter 97. Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 14.2 14.1 (not really tapered). Technical description: Wood with fabric covering, painted black (the last coat of paint obviously applied after some of the fabric had worn away). 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, arranged for left hand to grip from above and right hand to grip from below; 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. Bell very slightly turned forwards. Inscribed on crook receiver ferrule "Metzler & Son, / London." Circular paper label inside bell, printed "EDINBURGH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & ART" with crown, and written in ink "Serpent / (Mus: Instr). / Bt. of Morrison / Dick & McCulla / May '06". Decorative features: Scalloped edge on ferrules of bell and crook receiver. Inside of bell painted red. Distinctive design of touchpiece on two lower keys. Pads absent from all three keys; if these tone holes originally had chimneys they are also missing. Fabric covering fretted away near uppermost finger hole. Lent with, probably formerly used with and possibly supplied by maker with mouthpiece (3373). Specific literature references: G.S. (1958) No 43; G.S. (1968) No 419.

Notes

R. Parks, 27.10.93.

Measurements

708.

Provenance

Purchased with serpent mouthpiece (3373) by the Royal Scottish Museum from Morrison, Dick & McCulla in May 1906 for £1/-/-. ; Lent by the Trustees of the National Museums of Scotland, NMS 1906.342.

Collection

MIMEd

Accession Number

3372

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