Raoux Orchestral Horn: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This orchestral horn was made by Marcel-Auguste Raoux in Paris, France, around 1838-1842. It is made of brass and silver and accessioned with crooks and an original wooden case. The horn is engraved (on bell garland):

RAOUX FOURNISSEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE RUE DES MINIMES No 14 A PARIS

The Maison Raoux was founded in Paris and produced instruments beginning in the 17th century. In 1857, Jacques Christoph Labbaye bought the name and production rights from Raoux, and later sold the company in 1878.

Samuel Arthur Chappell (1834-1904) was a member of the Chappell & Co. family of publishers, piano makers, and musical instrument dealers in London. This horn was sold through the Chappell shop.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1838-1842
• maker: Raoux, Marcel Auguste
• Object Name: horn
• Physical Description: brass (overall material)
• Physical Description: silver (overall material)
• Measurements: horn: 11 1/8 in x 14 3/4 in x 18 in; 28.2575 cm x 37.465 cm x 45.72 cm
• place made: France: Île-de-France, Paris
• ID Number: MI.74.05
• catalog number: 74.05
• accession number: 310926
• 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.