object image

Conical body of copper, painted dark green, with rectangular chamber soldered to side to receive removable reed cartridge. Cap of silver cap attached to wide end, perforated by two square holes. Reed cartridge comprised of seventeen square-section cells of brass, each containing free reed except end cells, which are dummies. Compass of b to b2 (fifteen notes in diatonic scale). Pitch of A=433-438 cps. Missing sliding mouthpiece.

Music: Home Sweet Home from Clari, the Maid of Milan by John Howard Payne, 1822 (performed by Darcy Kuronen)

Inscription

Stamped at end of body: J. A. BAZIN / B; engraved on face of body: PATENT / Sold by John Ashton / Boston

Provenance

By 1995, sold at auction, New Castle, Maine, to Kaja Veilleux, New Castle, Maine; 1995, sold by Veilleux to the MFA. (Accession Date: May 24, 1995)

Credit Line

Gift of Allen B. Sly and William Lindsey Fund, by exchange

Mouth organ (harmonica)

Canton, Massachusetts, United States
Dimensions
Length 9.4 cm, width 5.7 cm, thickness 3.1 cm (Length 3 11/16 in., width 2 1/4 in., thickness 1 1/4 in.)
Medium or Technique
Copper, brass
Classification
Musical instruments
Accession Number
1995.87
Not on view

Multimedia

Listen
Audio 1
Audio 2

Tags