Name of Instrument: tenor cornetto / corno torto

Maker / Brand: L. Franciolini shop

Stearns Catalog #: 0834

Country of Origin: Florence, Italy

Region of Origin: Europe

Instrument Category: Aerophone

Date of Fabrication: late-19th C.

Location: AER P 1

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, it is fraudulent Corno torto (Tenor Cornetto) made of leather-covered pine with an ivory ferrule. It has an S-shaped round tube with six finger holes that are arbitrarily spaced. There is a single brass key of flat flap type with a brass saddle that is half-recessed into the key shank; has a steel leaf spring.

Research: Prof. James M. Borders