Photo of Oboe, copper alloy - Public domain dedication

The oboe originated in 17th-century France. Dutch instrument makers immediately started making copies of these first French exemplars. In Amsterdam, Richard Haka started producing French hautbois (a name corrupted to oboe) already in 1680. Oboes were made of hardwoods – like boxwood, ebony, fruitwoods – and ivory. The keys were made of brass or, for fancier instruments, of silver.