Antoine Courtois "Koening's Model" (±1863)

Manufactured presumably around 1863 (give or take a year) by the legendary Parisian workshop Antoine Courtois, this "Koenig's Model" stands as one of the absolute oldest and most historically significant instruments in my entire collection. Named after the famous 19th-century cornet virtuoso Hermann Koenig, this model was celebrated for its lyrical tone and elite acoustic design.

A distinct metal ring is visible halfway down the length of the bell flare. This highly unusual structural feature strongly suggests that the bell section underwent a major historical repair or a complete replacement at some point in its past.
Despite the evidence of a deep repair, further evidence indicates that the bell and the valve body are historically original to one another. The unique serial number stamped into the third valve cap perfectly aligns with the 1863 dating of the bell engraving. Furthermore, surviving historical examples of this exact model confirm that they were officially stamped as "Koenig's," proving the pieces belong together.

When this horn first arrived at my home, it was completely blackened by a thick century of dark silver tarnish. Following a meticulous, intensive hand-polishing process, its brilliant genuine silver plating has been fully restored to a mirror finish.
Despite being over 160 years old, this historic cornet has survived in very good condition and is still fully playable today, standing as a living testament to the unmatched build quality of the nineteenth-century Courtois workshop.