Tenor Bugle in B-flat

Josef Serpek

ca. 1862 · Brass, nickel-silver · Musical Instruments

Although Mary Elizabeth Adams Brown purchased this instrument from Leopoldo Franciolini, who has become infamous for selling forged and fantastical instruments, there is no reason to assume that this instrument is a fake. Instead, its fanciful configuration suggests that it was made for use in a carnival parade or historical pagentry event.

Artist

Josef Serpek

Date

ca. 1862

Medium

Brass, nickel-silver

Culture

Austrian

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889