Not currently on display at the V&A

Treble Recorder

about 1790 (Made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Traditionally, recorders flare outwards towards the base in a conical fashion, but with a narrow hole and thick wooden surround at the bottom. However, this example, while seeming to narrow towards the end, has a much broader hole than the earlier recorders, probably so as to make it sound louder and more like a flute. It is played in G, instead of F, the standard pitch of treble recorders. Boxwood was often used for making recorders and flutes during the 18th century.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Turned and stained boxwood tubing, turned ivory mounts
Brief description
Treble recorder, stained boxwood with ivory mounts, English, about 1790.
Physical description
"Stained boxwood, in three joints with ivory mounts. The foot joint is shaped in the style of flutes of the period. The pitch of the instrument is a whole tone higher than that of the normal treble recorder, the lowest note sounding G". Anthony Baines,Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments (London, 1998), p. 87
Dimensions
  • Total length length: 40cm
Taken from Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p. 87
Gallery label
TREBLE RECORDER English (?); about 1790 Stained boxwood joints and ivory mounts. Non-Keyboard Catalogue No.: 20/8 This instrument is played in the key of G, a note above the standard pitch of F. 695-1883(pre September 2000)
Credit line
Bequeathed to the Museum by N.S.Heineker, Esq
Object history
Bequeathed by N.S.Heineker.
Summary
Traditionally, recorders flare outwards towards the base in a conical fashion, but with a narrow hole and thick wooden surround at the bottom. However, this example, while seeming to narrow towards the end, has a much broader hole than the earlier recorders, probably so as to make it sound louder and more like a flute. It is played in G, instead of F, the standard pitch of treble recorders. Boxwood was often used for making recorders and flutes during the 18th century.
Bibliographic reference
Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p. 86
Collection
Accession number
695-1883

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Record createdMay 16, 2001
Record URL
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