£9,950.00
Out of stock
Description
We have probably never had such an historic instrument for sale! This beautifully maintained Courtois dates from the rue des Provaires period of 1802/3 – 1809 (as listed in The New Langwill Index). It comes in a stunning original box (see photos) with a full set of crooks. The tuning slide allows for a comfortable A430 and fully pushed in at A440 (just!).
The smaller venturi on the crooks works well with the period (possibly original) mouthpiece supplied with the horn and is too small for a modern, unadapted mouthpiece. This really is a horn to be cherished. One that gives wonderful insight into historic horn playing.
The bell shape of these early 19th Century horns made by Courtois are a little wider in the throat than the later, very popular Raoux horns. A lovely detail of manufacture is the bell flare’s multiple gusset, described in Morley-Pegge (in reference to a Courtois that was in the author’s own collection) as a “triple gusset composed of a large central portion with two small ‘wings’ on either edge of the base”.
For ease of use when going to your early music gig this horn also comes with a Bonna natural horn case although we would strongly advise that the horn is stored back in its original box after the gig.
If you are thinking of becoming the new guardian of this remarkable “museum piece” of horn please contact us to come and have a look!
