Piccolo (middle joint) c. 1750

This is the middle joint of a piccolo, made from wood by Robert Wijne in the 18th century. Wijne was a renowned instrument maker in Amsterdam, and objects like this show that the skills of woodworking can be just as elevated as any other art form. Consider how the piccolo’s warm color and smooth surface are achieved by the careful selection and treatment of the wood. The precision of the bore, tone holes and threading required exceptional skill, each element painstakingly shaped using specialized tools. The maker also branded the instrument with his name, a mark of pride but also an assurance of quality. Before industrialization, musical instrument making was an artisan-based practice, relying on the expertise of individual craftspeople. The value of this object lies not only in its function, but also in the labor and knowledge embedded in its making. Recognizing the artistry in everyday objects like this helps us appreciate the broader cultural and economic context in which they were created.