Serpent forveille, in two components: a long wooden body, covered with brown stained leather, doubling back a short distance at the foot in a U bend; and a brass continuation consisting of a compressed S-shaped tube and a swan-necked mouthpipe. Three keys. Finger holes for left hand on high metal bushes. Finger holes for right hand large and without bushes. All metal parts except rough brass bell garland covered with yellow paint. Mouthpiece a later substitution. Keys lack pads. One key lacks shank and spring. Mouthpipe dented. Stamped: Darche (address is illegible) Paris. Stamped deeply inside bell: an illegible name, possibly Toblot. Carse transcribes the inscription as: “Darché, Rue . . . . és, à Paris” Reinout Woltjer has speculated, based on comparison with similar instruments, that the inscription originally read: “DARCHE / Rue des Fossés / Montmartre / à Paris"
