Clarinet in E-flat
According to the city archives in Münster, Franz Lauter was a turner born 7 April 1816 in Münster. His parents were the turner Ernst Lauter and Catharine nee Terlinde. Franz Lauter had six siblings of which 4 brothers were also turners.He came from Münster to the US in 1845. He claimed to have won prize medals at the 1844 Berlin World’s Fair, and at the 1853 New York Crystal Palace Exhibition. (Nancy Groce, Musical Instrument Makers of New York, Pendagron Press 1991, 95. Waterhouse, NLI, 226.)
Overall size: 495
Bore: c-hole 12.2, f-hole 12.2.
Conical part: 90
Technical description: Boxwood with horn ferrules and brass keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section and middle section for the fingers of the right hand in one piece, lower section with keys, bell. Ebony mouthpiece not grooved. Bulgy barrel. Speaker liner projects about 4mm into the bore. No key for F4/ C6. Wooden integral thumb rest. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a fusiform swelling. Wooden guidance for F♯3/C♯5 lever. Bell with a wooden rim.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮; throat A♭.
L2: T.
L3: T; E♭4/B♭5.
L4: C♯4/G♯5; E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T; cross B♭3/F♮5.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: saltspoon.
Keymount type: blocks, swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece "F. LAUTER / MÜNSTER".
Playing accessories: reed and string (not original)
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Overall size: 495
Bore: c-hole 12.2, f-hole 12.2.
Conical part: 90
Technical description: Boxwood with horn ferrules and brass keywork. Five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper section and middle section for the fingers of the right hand in one piece, lower section with keys, bell. Ebony mouthpiece not grooved. Bulgy barrel. Speaker liner projects about 4mm into the bore. No key for F4/ C6. Wooden integral thumb rest. Levers for L4, tone-hole and key for R4 mounted in a fusiform swelling. Wooden guidance for F♯3/C♯5 lever. Bell with a wooden rim.
L0: T; speaker.
L1: T; throat A♮; throat A♭.
L2: T.
L3: T; E♭4/B♭5.
L4: C♯4/G♯5; E3/B♮4; F♯3/C♯5.
R1: T.
R2: T.
R3: T; cross B♭3/F♮5.
R4: T; G♯3/E♭5.
Keyhead type: saltspoon.
Keymount type: blocks, swelling.
Inscribed on all pieces except for unstamped mouthpiece "F. LAUTER / MÜNSTER".
Playing accessories: reed and string (not original)
(Heike Fricke, 2014)
Artwork Details
- Title: Clarinet in E-flat
- Maker: Franz Lauter (German, Munster active ca. 1845–1885 New York)
- Date: ca. 1840
- Geography: Münster, Germany
- Culture: German
- Medium: Wood, horn, brass
- Dimensions: Length: 49.5 cm. (19.5 in.)
- Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-single reed cylindrical
- Credit Line: Gift of William J. Maynard, 1995
- Object Number: 1995.398.1
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Franz Lauter
ca. 1855–60
Charles Joseph Sax
1830
Giosue Esposito
1881
Alexandre Pere & Fils
1850–55
Johann Wilhelm Oberlender (the Elder)
mid-18th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.