Claviharp
This unusual upright piano is made to resemble a harp, with a gilt pillar on the bass side, and a curve shaped like the enharmonic curve of a harp. The strings are visible in front of the soundboard, and not hidden behind a case or screen as on most uprights. While this piano comes from the late nineteenth century, it is related to the many unusual and sometimes fantastical upright piano shapes that were created earlier in the century such as the giraffe, pyramid, and lyre piano forms. Another unusual feature is that there are swell shutters on the back of the case, which when opened make the volume of the instrument greater. The shutters are controlled by the right pedal, the left pedal controls the dampers. Both pedals are unusually placed on either side of the right foot of the piano, which, because of the unusual case shape is more centrally located than on most uprights.
Technical description: Upright harp-like case veneered in bird's eye maple with fluted, gilt pillar with carved foliate terminations at left side of case above keyboard; "harmonic curve" bearing pierced square tuning pins extending from top of pillar at left down to right side of case just above action, there surmounted by a carved gilt scroll; carved scrolls flanking and supporting keyboard and buttressing 2 chamfered blocks supporting base of case; left side of base continues vertical line of pillar, but right side of base angles in toward the left, reaching floor beneath center of keyboard, and supporting the pedals on either side of the right chamfered block; soundboard painted light blue and cream with gilt border and painting of a female figure surrounded by winged Cupids; compass: AAA-a4 (85 keys), ivory naturals, ebony accidentals; 2 pedals, left raising dampers, right opening swell shutters behind case; unusual upright piano action with felt-covered hammers activated by lowest 25 keys, and the upper keys activating a plucking mechanism employing felt-lined metal plectra; dampers rest behind strings, but upper 20 strings are not damped; single strung throughout, lowest 25 strings wound. (L. Libin 16 Nov 76)
Technical description: Upright harp-like case veneered in bird's eye maple with fluted, gilt pillar with carved foliate terminations at left side of case above keyboard; "harmonic curve" bearing pierced square tuning pins extending from top of pillar at left down to right side of case just above action, there surmounted by a carved gilt scroll; carved scrolls flanking and supporting keyboard and buttressing 2 chamfered blocks supporting base of case; left side of base continues vertical line of pillar, but right side of base angles in toward the left, reaching floor beneath center of keyboard, and supporting the pedals on either side of the right chamfered block; soundboard painted light blue and cream with gilt border and painting of a female figure surrounded by winged Cupids; compass: AAA-a4 (85 keys), ivory naturals, ebony accidentals; 2 pedals, left raising dampers, right opening swell shutters behind case; unusual upright piano action with felt-covered hammers activated by lowest 25 keys, and the upper keys activating a plucking mechanism employing felt-lined metal plectra; dampers rest behind strings, but upper 20 strings are not damped; single strung throughout, lowest 25 strings wound. (L. Libin 16 Nov 76)
Artwork Details
- Title: Claviharp
- Date: late 19th century
- Geography: Italy
- Culture: Italian
- Medium: Various materials
- Dimensions: Case length (perpendicular to keyboard): 44 cm
Width (parallel to keyboard): 149 cm
Total height: 179 cm
String length:
longest: 129.9 cm (51 1/8 in.); shortest: 4.7 cm (1 7/8 in.); c2: 30.5 cm (12 in.) - Classification: Chordophone-Zither-struck-piano
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.2430
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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Érard
George Henry Blake
ca. 1840
probably Austrian
early 19th century
Giosue Esposito
1881
Ferdinando Roth
ca. 1855
possibly Italian
mid-19th century
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