Oboe c. 1720 - 1744

This is an oboe, crafted from wood and silver by an unknown maker. Before the gramophone and radio, instruments like this one played a key role in the social life of communities. Looking at the craftsmanship of this object we can see the value that was given to music as a social practice. Consider the silversmith’s work – an embellishment offering nothing to the sound produced. This tells us something of the patronage system that would have supported its maker, and the value placed on musical accomplishment in a particular social class. While it might not critique social institutions explicitly, its existence speaks to a system of social support for the arts, the history of which can be traced through archival records, account books, and other historical documents. These help us to understand the crucial role of art within a community. It is in this wider context that the true meaning of the object can be found.