Tuba

Overview Tuba attr. C.W. Moritz German ca. 1855 On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 680 The overall design of the instrument and configuration of its valves is similar to the early tubas made by Johann Gottfried Moritz in Berlin. It has five Berlin valves (bottom-sprung with a single guide slot) and each valve loop has a tuning slide. The bell garland is engraved with a flower, oak leaf and acorn motif. The white metal plaque affixed to the bell bears no maker’s description but is decorated in the same style as the bell garland. The motif and the style of execution is typical of instruments made in Markneukirchen during the mid-nineteenth century.