Buccina
Category
Musical instruments, devices and recordings
Date
circa 1800 - circa 1830
Materials
Brass
Measurements
650 x 440 mm
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1335326
Caption
Animal-inspired instruments have existed for thousands of years, and include the snake- and dragon-head ‘zoomorphic’ bells used by the Celts and the Romans. This colourful instrument – known as a buccin à tête de dragon – was bought by collector Charles Paget Wade (1883–1956). He admired the craftsmanship of the dragon and believed it might be Burmese in origin, although it was actually created for 19th-century French and Belgian military bands. Buccin or dragon-bell trombones were usually made from a sheet of brass hammered over a wooden form and painted in bright gold, red and green. Some even had a flapping metal tongue, which moved when the instrument was played. Sadly, this buccin is missing its mouthpiece and trombone slide, but it would have been an impressive and intimidating sight as the band marched along. There are over 100 complete musical instruments from across the globe at Snowshill, as well as an assortment of detached parts, and it is easy to see why this dragon’s head appealed to Wade.
Summary
Buccin, anon, French, early 19th century. Curled brass tube with support tubing and dragons head in brass as horn, painted red, green, and yellow, with chocolate Interior. Mouthpiece missing. Screw to tighten tube onto mouthpiece. Takes its name from the Roman buccina. In notebook no.4, page 9 (1340945.4) Charles Wade refers to: 'Music Room 82. A Circular Brass Horn with painted Dragon's head attached. The horn English, dragon appears Burmese.'
Provenance
Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
References
Wade, 1944: Charles Paget Wade, Contents of Snowshill Manor. Volume 4 First and Second Floor, 1944, page 9