Clavichord
Category
Musical instruments, devices and recordings
Date
1675 - 1725
Materials
paint, boxwood and cypress
Order this imageCollection
Fenton House, London
NT 1448930
Summary
Clavichord, maker unknown, possibly Germany, late 17th - early 18th century. A triple-fretted clavichord in a walnut case. Unattributed, but probably built in southern Germany in the late 17th or early 18th century. The black-painted lid with internal painting of blue sky and stars. The instrument has no stand and would not have possessed one historically. The instrument is displayed on an 18th century card table. The fretting probably originally intended for quarter-comma meantone, but altered c20th century to provide, roughly, equal temperament. Keyboard compass C/E short octave – c3. Exhibited by the National Trust among Rushworth and Dreaper's collection of ancient musical instruments in Islington, Liverpool, between 11-29 June 1957.
Provenance
Clavichord, c. 1700. Acquired by Major George Henry Benton Fletcher (1866-1944) between 1930 and 1937, and described in the Old Devonshire House catalogue 1938 and in Amateur Musician 1939. Transferred to the National Trust in February 1938.