Name of Instrument: serpent militaire

Maker / Brand: L. Franciolini Shop

Stearns Catalog #: 0923

Country of Origin: Florence, Italy

Region of Origin: Europe

Instrument Category: Aerophone

Date of Fabrication: late 19th C.

Location: AER I 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, we have a fraudulent Serpent Militaire which is made of a leather-covered pine body with brass crook and bell. It form is coiled; the six small finger holes are arbitrarily spaced. It bears an illegible inscription, "_____CONRIDI".

Research: Prof. James M. Borders