Keyed Bugle 1854

This keyed bugle was created by Elbridge G. Wright, sometime before his death in 1871, and is made from German silver. This wasn't actually silver at all, but a cheaper alloy made of brass, zinc, and nickel that was then plated. The keys are arranged to allow for a wider range of notes than a traditional bugle, blurring the distinction between it and instruments of high art such as the flugelhorn. The fact that this was an instrument of war, but also capable of being used for refined musical expression, tells us something about the aspirations of Wright's clientele. The plated surface and refined chasing give the impression of affluence, but the relatively low value of the base metal reminds us that this was an era of mass production. Objects like this challenge our standard notions of what constitutes art and design, inviting us to think about the social aspirations embedded in even the most functional of objects.