Contrabassoon, anonymous, c. 1810
fruitwood, l c.170cm × d c.8.5cm More details
The contrabassoon has a windway that is double the length of the standard bassoon’s, and it plays an octave lower. Between the late 18th century and early 19th century, contrabassoon makers were mostly active in the Habsburg Empire, especially in Vienna. Early contrabassoons, such as this exquisite exemplar, are very rare.
