Oboe c. 1720 - 1730

Curator: The artwork we're examining today is an oboe dating back to approximately 1720 to 1730. Editor: My first thought? Elegant severity. That ebony black with glints of gold, like a disciplined fire. There's also something almost comically vertical about it – it just shoots right up. Curator: Indeed. And what we see here exemplifies the Baroque aesthetic—this decorative layering reflects that period’s penchant for ornate embellishment. Consider, though, who would have owned this object; these weren’t mass produced; a musical instrument this highly decorated surely speaks to class. Editor: Exactly! An artisanal, coveted object, meticulously cared for…I imagine its music filling candlelit rooms in grand houses. But also, all that decoration - does it affect the sound? Curator: That is indeed something we may not know, though what you bring up is also critical when we look at art historical objects. Where can one place this piece in the study of instruments across Europe at this point? Editor: Mmm, the story of the instrument itself as it crosses places and generations! What if this very oboe inspired a future composer's sonata? Imagine the chain reaction! Or the wood itself holding stories of place, its particular resonance adding richness to performance… Curator: Beautifully said. We should acknowledge how instruments shifted between artisanal endeavors into early forms of manufacturing in places like Germany. These material factors changed access for emerging musicians as well. Editor: Right, how these instruments and other objects enter circulation is as essential as any discussion of stylistic origins, as these materials connect us with the circulation of history, trade, and access. Curator: Absolutely, and now thinking through how instruments function within material histories and networks across geographic and temporal realms provides a new layer of appreciating sound’s relationship with culture. Editor: To be aware of all that history imbued in this elegant, severe oboe... it makes one listen a little differently.