Description

Bass C ocarina – HOPF

This ocarina was made in the 1950-60s by the company HOPF. The family’s instrument-making tradition goes back to the 17^th century in the Klingenthal/Markneukirchen region of Saxony, Germany. The company specialised in making string instruments such as guitars and violins. Following World War II, in 1948, the family fled their homeland and relocated in Taunusstein-Wehen under the name Willy Hopf & Co and began to make woodwinds too. The company still exists with the next generation making guitars.

This mid-century German terracotta ocarina has a wonderful pink glaze. This pastel pink colour was totally in and fashionable for home décor during the 1950s.  It also features a courting or proposal scene. We can see a gentleman kneeling before a lady in a full-skirted dress. He looks like he’s proposing! This decoration was achieved by using ceramic decal transfers.

The instrument features 10 holes and is marked C. It is functional, and in super almost unused condition, but its looks are much more attractive than the sound it produces. As a result, it is primarily a charming decorative object, ideal for the centre of an ocarina collection.