Cramer & Key 3-keyed Serpent: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This serpent was made by Cramer & Key in London, England, around 1805-1807. It is a 3-keyed serpent made of maple, covered with leather and linen, strengthened by 2 metal rods. This serpent has 6 fingerholes with ivory bushes, 3 brass keys, a brass band at the top, a brass rim around the edge of the bell, brass crook, and an ivory mouthpiece. The keys have flat round key heads and are mounted in saddles. Etched on the top brass band:

Instrument makers John Cramer (c. 1764 – 1828) and Thomas Key (17?? – 1853), had a brief partnership in London from 1804-1808. John Cramer was trained by instrument maker George Miller and took over his workshop in 1791 at No. 3 Dacre Street, Westminster. In July 1804 John Cramer started his business partership with his foreman Thomas Key at Pall Mall No. 2. In September 1807 their partnership was dissolved, and John Cramer continued with his son John Theodore Jonas Cramer (1792-1818) at Pall Mall No. 20.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1805 - 1807
• maker: Cramer & Key
• maker: Cramer & Key
• Object Name: serpent
• Physical Description: maple (overall material)
• Physical Description: leather (overall material)
• Physical Description: linen (overall material)
• Physical Description: brass (overall material)
• Physical Description: ivory (overall material)
• Measurements: serpent: 4 3/4 in x 17 1/4 in x 28 7/8 in; 12.065 cm x 43.815 cm x 73.3425 cm
• Measurements: mouthpiece extender: 7/8 in x 4 3/8 in x 7 7/8 in; 2.2225 cm x 11.1125 cm x 20.0025 cm
• Measurements: mouthpiece ivory: 1 13/16 in x 1 5/16 in; 4.60375 cm x 3.33375 cm
• place made: United Kingdom: England, London
• ID Number: MI.054252
• catalog number: 54252
• accession number: 11172
• Credit Line: Gift of Wesleyan University
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.