Harpsichord
Category
Musical instruments, devices and recordings
Date
1730
Materials
Wood, metal, ivory, cloth, leather, bird feather rachis. (Paper elements only - Black ink/ watercolour on paper, and black printing ink on paper. Varnish.)
Measurements
91 x 122 x 96 cm
Order this imageCollection
Ham House, Surrey
NT 1139662.1
Summary
A double manual harpsichord inscribed (misleadingly and almost now illegibly) on the fascia Ioannes Ruckers Me Fecit Antverpiae. The true identity and nationality of the builder is unknown, but the instrument is considered to be of British origin, early 18th century (c1730) and decorated in the manner of Ruckers, a dynasty of 16th and 17th century Flemish stringed keyboard instrument builders. The case and majority of structural components are of coniferous timber. The case is marbled, having panels of red streaked with white made to appear recessed within borders of black with blue streaks. The interior is lined with printed paper bearing the words ACTA VIRUM PROBANT 1634 within a decorative border and on the flap, SOLI DEO GLORIA. The keyboard is capped in ivory and is surrounded by printed paper of arabesque design on a blue-grey ground. The stand has four legs, turned at the top and cabriole on the lower half all with pad feet. A single long stretcher joins the two smaller stretchers of each pair of legs. See also HAM/XX/136 b and c.
Marks and inscriptions
SOLI DEO GLORIA - printed, on flap -