Book Harmonium
A book organ (or bible regal) was a popular type of small pipe organ that when folded up took the shape of a large book. This instrument takes that much older idea and updates it with a free reed harmonium in the 19th century.
Technical description: Dark-stained oak case in form of a rectangular book, cover, fastened by 2 metal hooks and eyes, hinges up to reveal a folding (see attached card) music rack and keyboard (bone naturals, ebony accidentals) at front of compartment, behind this a hand-pumped 3-fold feeder bellows at left and similar reservoir at right, both with oak tops and covered with embossed paper with leather corner reinforcements; feeder secured by metal hook when closed; below keyboard and bellows, a windchest sealed by a leather gasket, with conduit at right rear, contains 42 brass free reeds riveted to brass mounts, the mounts fastened in place by 2 screws; solfége syllables stamped on exposed side of mounts and non-consecutive numbers stamped on opposite side; (see attached card) keys, set on balance pins and front pins, terminate at rear with perpendicular downward stems that hold leather-faced blocks serving as valves over channels above reeds; compass C-f2.
Marked:
Technical description: Dark-stained oak case in form of a rectangular book, cover, fastened by 2 metal hooks and eyes, hinges up to reveal a folding (see attached card) music rack and keyboard (bone naturals, ebony accidentals) at front of compartment, behind this a hand-pumped 3-fold feeder bellows at left and similar reservoir at right, both with oak tops and covered with embossed paper with leather corner reinforcements; feeder secured by metal hook when closed; below keyboard and bellows, a windchest sealed by a leather gasket, with conduit at right rear, contains 42 brass free reeds riveted to brass mounts, the mounts fastened in place by 2 screws; solfége syllables stamped on exposed side of mounts and non-consecutive numbers stamped on opposite side; (see attached card) keys, set on balance pins and front pins, terminate at rear with perpendicular downward stems that hold leather-faced blocks serving as valves over channels above reeds; compass C-f2.
Marked:
Artwork Details
- Title: Book Harmonium
- Maker: Lepuye (?)
- Date: second half 19th century
- Geography: France
- Culture: French
- Medium: Wood, various materials
- Dimensions: Length perpendicular to keyboard: 29.3 cm
Width parallel to keyboard: 59.4 cm
Depth of case: 13.1 cm
One-octave span: 14.0 cm - Classification: Aerophone-Free Reed-harmonium
- Credit Line: Museum Accession
- Object Number: X.253.5
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Alexandre Pere & Fils
1850–55
Dominique Antony Porthaux
1790–1800
Alexander-François Debain
ca. 1860
French
late 18th or early 19th century
French or German
19th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.