Name of Instrument: Turkish crescent

Maker / Brand: L. Franciolini Shop

Stearns Catalog #: 0257

Country of Origin: Florence, Italy

Region of Origin: Europe

Instrument Category: Idiophone

Date of Fabrication:

Location: IDI L 2

Description: This instrument comes to the Stearns Collection from a highly questionable source--Leopoldo Franciolini. Many Franciolini instruments are forgeries or interesting hybrids of original instruments and scrap wood. In this case, a wooden handle carries a brass rod on which are loosely fastened--so as to turn freely--a brass crescent, a piece of sheet brass in the form of a lyre, and an inverted scalloped cone of the same metal. The cone has eight small pellet bells and eight small clapper bells (three missing). The lyre has two pellet bells (one missing). The large crescent has eight pellet bells (one missing) and ten pellet clapper bells (one missing). Two "horsetails" are also attached. The cone, by its resemblance to a Chinese hat, is responsible for the French designation.

See Stearns #0256 & #0259.

Research: Prof. James M. Borders