Probably Milanese, in the style of J.M. Anciuti, circa 1740

Possibly from the Milanese workshops of J.M. Anciuti, who was celebrated for his ivory wind instruments. An ivory treble recorder, bearing his name and the date 1740, was acquired by the South Kensington Museum in 1861. In 1869 the Museum also acquired a related ivory oboe, bearing his name, and which was at one time in the collection of Rossini (see A. Baines, Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria & Albert Museum, pt. 11, London, 1998, nos. 20/5 and 23/2).