Harpsichord case
Kirkman
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1770
Materials
Walnut and boxwood
Measurements
93.0 x 219.0 x 93.0 cm
Order this imageCollection
Knole, Kent
NT 129504
Summary
A Walnut harpsichord case, London, c.1770, inlaid with boxwood stringing and burr walnut panels adjacent to keyboard. This harpsichord, of which the action is largely missing, sits on a later stand with square tapering legs, and was made by the English harpsichord and later piano makers Kirkman. The Kirkmans were of Alastian origin. Jacob, the father, came to England in the 1730s and was, together with Burkat Shudi, one of the most prolific harpsichord makers in London. He was succeeded by his son Abraham, and later his grandson and greatgrandsons Jospeh I and Joseph II Kirman.
Provenance
Knole and the majority of its furniture were accepted by HM Treasury in part payment of death duties and transferred to the National Trust in 1946.
Makers and roles
Kirkman , maker