Harpsichord
This harpsichord has two sets of unison strings and one set of octave strings. One of the unisons is played from the upper keyboard, and the second unison and the octave are played from the lower keyboard. Pushing the upper keyboard inward couples the keyboards so that all three strings may be played from the lower keyboard. In addition, strings may be played from the three rows of jacks. There is a register that mutes the lower keyboard unison strings by means of small pads of buff leather.
Technical description: Case of poplar or lime, exterior decoration of speckle gold in varnish and painted floral designs may not be original; double manual, GG-e3, 2x8', 1x4', buff, upper manual slides in to couple; ebony naturals with pearwood arcades, accidentals of black-stained alizier covered with bone plates; jacks of alizier, tapered, originally with bristle springs, restorer ca. 1900 changed to brass leaf springs and added lead weights; leather-covered jack slides and guides; lower manual guided by metal pins in rack, upper manual by pins in mortises in rear of levers; stop levers on wrestplank behind nameboard; carved and gilded stand with seven cabriole legs; soundboard decorated with cast metal rose, paintings of flowers, insects, and a bird. (Douglas Maple 1983)
Technical description: Case of poplar or lime, exterior decoration of speckle gold in varnish and painted floral designs may not be original; double manual, GG-e3, 2x8', 1x4', buff, upper manual slides in to couple; ebony naturals with pearwood arcades, accidentals of black-stained alizier covered with bone plates; jacks of alizier, tapered, originally with bristle springs, restorer ca. 1900 changed to brass leaf springs and added lead weights; leather-covered jack slides and guides; lower manual guided by metal pins in rack, upper manual by pins in mortises in rear of levers; stop levers on wrestplank behind nameboard; carved and gilded stand with seven cabriole legs; soundboard decorated with cast metal rose, paintings of flowers, insects, and a bird. (Douglas Maple 1983)
Artwork Details
- Title: Harpsichord
- Maker: Louis Bellot (Paris, active 1717–1759)
- Date: 1742
- Geography: Paris, France
- Culture: French
- Medium: Wood and various materials
- Dimensions: L. 243 cm
W. 94 cm
D. 28 cm
Stand: 244cm x 92cm x 69cm - Classification: Chordophone-Zither-plucked-harpsichord
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.1218
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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ca. 1670
Jean Goermans
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