Clavicytherium
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.
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.
Artwork Details
- Title: Clavicytherium
- Maker: Unknown
- Date: early 17th century
- Geography: Italy
- Culture: Italian
- Medium: Wood and various materials
- Dimensions: D. 32.5 cm
W. 70.5 cm
H. 170.0 plus stand (73.0) = 243.0 cm, - Classifications: Chordophone-Zither-plucked-harpsichord, Paintings
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.1224a-b
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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