Clavicytherium

Unknown

early 17th century · Wood and various materials · Musical Instruments

Painted doors showing musicians, including King David playing a harp, enclose this upright harpsichord. Technical description: Wing-shaped harpsichord incorporated into a rectangular vertical cabinet, with two panel doors that open to reveal the instrument, and a fall board that covers the keyboard and action, on a stand with four turned and fluted legs; the cabinet, instrument case, and soundboard appear to be made of some type of fir, painted red with gilded mouldings, panel surfaces covered with oil paintings, both interior and exterior; Bridge position has been altered; C/E-c3, 2x8 ', naturals of dark-stained possibly walnut with ebony arcades, dark-stained possibly walnu accidentals with two narrow strips of inlaid ivory; jacks of perhaps pear wood with brass leaf-springs, leather plectra, box registers; remains of parchment rose in soundboard. (Douglas Maple 1983) Painting: Interior--back of case King David with Harp; right panel top fiddle player; right panel bottom viol player; left panel top singer; left panel bottom cornetto and putti with fiddle. exterior panels top left lute player; top right flute; lower left trombone; lower right harp. Painting on the fall board damaged.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 17th century

Medium

Wood and various materials

Culture

Italian

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889