Henry Pourcelle 13-Keyed Clarinet: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This clarinet was sold by C. Bruno & Son in New York, and made in France around 1886 to 1899.

It is a 13-keyed clarinet in B-flat, made of ebony with German silver finger holes, ferrules and keys. This clarinet is stamped:

“Henry Pourcelle” was a trade name used for clarinet sold by Charles Bruno & Son in New York. This clarinet is listed in a 1890s C. Bruno & Son catalog as:

“No. 58 Ebony, 13 German Silver Keys, 2 rings……….Each $29.00”

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date made: 1886-1899
• maker: C. Bruno & Son
• Object Name: clarinet
• Physical Description: ebony (overall material)
• Physical Description: german silver (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 22 1/2 in x 3 in; 57.15 cm x 7.62 cm
• Measurements: cap: 2 3/4 in x 1 in x 1 1/8 in; 6.985 cm x 2.54 cm x 2.8575 cm
• Measurements: mouthpiece: 3 1/2 in x 1 1/8 in; 8.89 cm x 2.8575 cm
• Measurements: barrel: 2 5/8 in x 1 5/16 in; 6.6675 cm x 3.33375 cm
• Measurements: upper joint: 8 3/8 in x 2 in; 21.2725 cm x 5.08 cm
• Measurements: lower joint: 9 3/4 in x 2 1/8 in; 24.765 cm x 5.3975 cm
• place made: France: Île-de-France, Paris
• ID Number: MI.66.091
• catalog number: 66.091
• accession number: 272356
• Credit Line: Gift of Robert E. Sheldon
• 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.