[saxophoneshiny]

5-10 years ago I came across a photo of what had to have been a one-of-a-kind mod of a sax (I think it was an alto). I'm sure it played horribly, but it was visually gorgeous. You could see the original metal around the rims, but the majority of the body was white/cream with a colorful pattern that looked similar to patterns you might see on porcelain...or something kind of like that. I had saved information on it, but lost that hard drive not long ago.

Has anybody ever seen this horn? I'm just interested in seeing it again, and hopefully learning about the artist who made it.

Thanks!!

 

[KeithL]

Probably a white lacquered Selmer like this; https://reverb.com/item/7953850-rar...uper-action-80-series-ii-tenor-saxophone-1990

 

[bruce bailey]

Conn made these in the 20s. Check saxpics.

 

[milandro]

there are at least two companies dealing in decorated saxophones, one French ( the horns are probably Chinese) and another Taiwanese.

they all probably accept custom commissions

one is this one ( at the moment the site is not responding)

https://www.juleez.com/Saxophone.html

the other one is this one Greatmind Instrument Manufacturing Co., based in Taiwan

 

[saxophoneshiny]

Thanks for the replies so far. I'm pretty certain what I'm looking for is a custom job done after the factory. I've been playing for 30 years, and although I can't spot every model from every year with my naked eye, I generally know what's been put out of the factories over the decades. It's not a white lacquered Selmer with factoring etching, and unless there's some exotic Conn's I can't find I don't think it's either of those.

It was colorful on top of the white body. The white might have been some thicker material added atop the factory materials.

This image I'm linking to might be misleading, since my memory is fuzzy, but think white and colors like this or muted a bit:

https://www.amazon.com/Polish-Pottery-Ceramika-Boleslawiec-Butterflies/dp/B006BE7EZS

It wasn't floral and butterflies like that, but in the ballpark of that feel.

 

[milandro]

5-10 years ago I came across a photo of what had to have been a one-of-a-kind mod of a sax (I think it was an alto). I'm sure it played horribly, but it was visually gorgeous. You could see the original metal around the rims, but the majority of the body was white/cream with a colorful pattern that looked similar to patterns you might see on porcelain...or something kind of like that. I had saved information on it, but lost that hard drive not long ago.

Has anybody ever seen this horn? I'm just interested in seeing it again, and hopefully learning about the artist who made it.

Thanks!!

If you cannot find these companies anymore, I may hook you up with a friend on Taiwan she deals in Saxophones and may know where to find an artist to make you a one off

 

[saxophoneshiny]

If you cannot find these companies anymore, I may hook you up with a friend on Taiwan she deals in Saxophones and may know where to find an artist to make you a one off

I appreciate the offer. My interest isn't in purchasing such a horn, I'm interested in finding the artist that I assume made what I saw. It's more a quest of appreciation and to find other works this person may have done in their career. I don't think it came from a saxophone company, I think it was a one of a kind customization of a factory horn.

I most likely came across it originally posted from a sax centric site, or reddit.

 

[saxophoneshiny]

As I dig, I believe 'Cloisonné' is the style this was done it. I keep reaching dead ends on google images and bing seeking 'Cloisonné saxophone', but that's the nearest I've felt to finding it in a long time.

 

[saxophoneshiny]

I have found the image in an old email. My memory did an awful job of describing the appearance, although I think 'Cloisonné' is still correct. It's not white/cream it's a light blue backdrop, and it's not the full body, just the bell.

Even with this image though, I am unable to find any information on it yet. A google reverse image search turns up nothing.

 

[kreacher]

Really really nice! must have been hours doing the molding and laying work of the "metal"? parts into the bell. I like it, very much.

With all that extra weight, its got to have such depth of tone!!

 

[milandro]

I have found the image in an old email. My memory did an awful job of describing the appearance, although I think 'Cloisonné' is still correct. It's not white/cream it's a light blue backdrop, and it's not the full body, just the bell.

Even with this image though, I am unable to find any information on it yet.

This is cloisonne work, I am certain it was made in China, the only place in the world where this work is still done at an affordable price. It won't be easy to find the artisan, but you probably will be best served looking for a company that does this work on vases, it will be possible to send them the detachable bell of a modern sax, have them do the work and then mount it back

The technique is to solder silver, copper, brass or even gold and then fill with enamels and bake in the oven (each color at a different temperature) at each stage everything can go wrong and you may have to the trow out everything, doing this in any western country will make the price shoot sky-high.

In Imperial Russia they did this there too, the Old Conns were made like this too, as noted This must add a ton ( so to speak) of weight. Think that doing a bell has to last at least 1 month of work!

 

[1saxman]

You might already know, but in case you don't, you can't porcelain a brass instrument because its a high-heat process. What you're talking about has to be a fancy paint job and there could be some added metal like the cloisonné shown to give it relief.

 

[Keegan]

Not a Grafton sax, was it? Sounds similar to what you are describing.

 

[milandro]

Not a Grafton sax, was it? Sounds similar to what you are describing.

have you seen post #9? Probably not

 

[datsaxman]

Very nice indeed! I usually like mine plain, but that is attractive.

 

[Keegan]

have you seen post #9? Probably not

Oops - not sure how I missed that...

 

[Guto]

Wow! Who would imagine making such a thing!

No disregard to the artist, beautiful Cloisonné work indeed, but why on Earth would anyone want to put a vase ornament on a saxophone? Let alone the extra weight.

I guess, why not? A company used to offer saxophones decorated with Swarovski crystals ...

 

[whamptoncourt]

Looking at the title i was expecting a real porcelain sax that could be given a second life as a urinal. Why not? More fun than a boring lamp!

Love the look of some of these in the above pictures/videos. Just amazing.

 

[milandro]

strange though this may sound, some time ago there was a person on Taiwan Mr. Tom Guo, with a factory for Porcelain Mouthpieces and porcelain resonators ( they were fitted on Grassi imported by PROEL in Italy ( the new owner of the brand) from Taiwan , they also had a factory with the first Kangaroo pads that I’ve ever seen ( I tried to see if there was a business but he told me that they were all sold to another company)

 

[goldenskyhook]

5-10 years ago I came across a photo of what had to have been a one-of-a-kind mod of a sax (I think it was an alto). I'm sure it played horribly, but it was visually gorgeous. You could see the original metal around the rims, but the majority of the body was white/cream with a colorful pattern that looked similar to patterns you might see on porcelain...or something kind of like that. I had saved information on it, but lost that hard drive not long ago.

Has anybody ever seen this horn? I'm just interested in seeing it again, and hopefully learning about the artist who made it.

Thanks!!

It sounds like one of those plastic horns Ornette Coleman used to blow. I think they were made by Grafton in 1966. There are a lot of carbonate and acrylic horns being made now. NO idea if they're worth playing.