{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O58948"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O58948/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BD0044/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BD0044/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BD0044","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AK8830","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KV8773","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O58948/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O58948","accessionNumber":"286-1882","objectType":"Serpent","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Serpents were mostly played in military bands. They serve as bass conetts (not to be confused with 'cornets', a type of trumpet), they were fitted with bowl-shaped mouthpieces like a brass-instrument and fingerholes like a flute. The musician extended the range of notes available by altering his fingering and repositioning of his lips. This instrument was made by Gerock & Wolf, a London-based company and a large producer of woodwind instruments, especially clarinets and flutes, during the 1830s.","physicalDescription":"\"Serpentine shape, of wood covered with black leather. The inside of the bell is painted red. Six fingerholes, bushed with ivory. Five round brass keys. Brass crook with right-angled bend, and a brass mouthpiece which is not original.\" - Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p. 104.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Gerock and Wolf","id":"A22654"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"},{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wood covered with leather tubing, brass mouthpiece and crook, ivory ringed holes","categories":[{"text":"Musical instruments","id":"THES48919"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006BD0044","2006AK8830","2018KV8773"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES299343"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Serpent","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1831-1832","earliest":"1831-01-01","latest":"1832-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"120","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"length of tube with crook but not mouthpiece.","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Taken from Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p. 104.","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Gerock, Wolf & Co, 79 Cornhill, London","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Engraved on the brass tubing immiediately below the mouthpiece."}],"objectHistory":"This formed part of the collections of Carl Engel and was valued at £1 - 10 - 0, when it was acquired by the South Kensington Museum in 1882.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Serpent, English, wood covered with leather with brass keys and ivory finger-holes, Gerock & Wolf, 1831-1832.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), p. 104."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"SERPENT \r\nEnglish\r\nBy Gerock & Wolf, about 1831I\r\nInscribed, <i>Gerock, Wolf & Co. 79 Cornhill, London</i>\r\nLeather covered wood, brass keys and mouthpiece.  \r\n \r\nNon-Keyboard Catalogue No.: 26/3 \r\n \r\nGeorge Gerock produced wind instruments from about 1804 until 1837, amalgamating with Robert Wolf between 1831 and 1832. It is said to have been an unsatisfactory flute this firm made for Theobald Boehm that inspired him to devise his own system. \r\n \r\n The serpent is a wind instrument with the finger holes and keys but a brass mouthpiece, that could produce different notes with the change of the embouchure. The instrument was invented in about 1590 by E. Guillaume, and initially used for ecclesiastical music. By about 1780 it was featuring in military bands, as well.\r\n\r\n286-1882","date":{"text":"pre September 2000","earliest":null,"latest":"2000-08-31"}}],"partNumbers":["286-1882"],"accessionNumberNum":"286","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1882,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-09","recordCreationDate":"2001-05-16","availableToBook":true}}