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Musette

Ivory pipes; bag with red velvet cover trimmed with silver lace and fringe of silver gilt thread. Bellows of wood covered with red velvet and silver lace, with 4 ribs of red leather; strap buckles of paste and silver. Round stock holds turned reed cap which in turn holds cylindrical main chanter with 7 finger holes (twin holes for R 4), one thumb hole and 7 silver keys. Smaller cap connected laterally to main chanter cap holds auxiliary chanter with 6 keys. Round stock holds shuttle drone: bores cannot be inspected as joint is now inseparable but wooden plugs at the lower end indicate 15 or possibly 16 bores; 7 leather-covered grooves with ivory sliders. Tenons and sockets are threaded. Velvet and lace date from c.1690–1730.

  • Date:
    late 17th or early 18th century
  • Maker:
    Anonymous
  • Collection:
    Royal College of Music Museum
  • Inventory number:
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  • Place of production:
    France
  • Culture:
  • Period:
  • Materials:
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  • Inscriptions:A coat of arms embroidered on the back of the bag in padded, couched and raised work with silver spangles, metal purl, metal silk, coloured silk and striped velvet, probably dates from the second half of 18th c.; it has been identified as that of a Prince of Schwarzenberg and Duke of Krumlov. (Information kindly provided by the Department of Textile and Dress of the Victoria and Albert Museum and by the College of Arms.)
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:
  • Repository:Royal College of Music Museum
  • Measurements:Visible length of main chanter: 264mm.