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Upright Harp Piano

1843
Not on view
The short-lived Euphonicon (from Greek, "sweet-toned") was patented by John Stewart in 1841 and manufactured under his supervision. Hand-painted designs and gilded brackets soften the industrial aspect of the solid iron frame. The Macassar ebony case encloses 3 soundboxes that replace a normal sound board. Decorated on all sides, the Euphonicon can be free-standing. Delicate scrollwork and carving belie its great weight. Similar harp-pianos (so called because of the exposed strings) were popular in America around 1860.

Technical description: Base of mahogany painted green and decorated with gilt bands; gilt decoration on exposed areas of sound chamber; gilt metal brackets and finials; painted and gilt iron brackets below keyboard integral with vertical frame; rolls on casters; patented tuning mechanism employing screws; fretwork music rack, base front panels, and sound chamber rear panels; ivory naturals, ebony accidentals, compass CC-a4 (82 keys), 2 pedals, left operates una corda, right lifts dampers, the top 23 notes lack dampers and vibrate freely and ring sympathetically when the instrument is played. Tape-check upright action with trackers, crank dampers with stickers and trackers; instead of soundboard, bridges cross three hollow chambers located behind the strings and extending halfway up the vertical frame; double strung throughout, bottom 18 strings would

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Upright Harp Piano
  • Artist: F. Beale & Co.
  • Date: 1843
  • Geography: London, England, United Kingdom
  • Culture: British
  • Medium: Mahogany, paint, gilding, cast iron, paint, silk, ivory, ebony, glaze
  • Dimensions: 142cm x 76cm x 195cm
  • Classification: Chordophone-Zither-struck-piano
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Greenfield Sluder, 1944
  • Object Number: 44.58
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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Grand Pianoforte, Érard , made in London French, Satinwood veneer, oak, spruce, iron, steel, ebony, ivory, gilding, mother-of-pearl, holly, mahogany, burl walnut, tulipwood, silver wire, British
Grand Pianoforte
Érard
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ca. 1840
Concertina, Charles Wheatstone British, Rosewood, nickel-silver, leather, paper, ivory, tortoiseshell; case of mahogany, British
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Symphonium, Charles Wheatstone British, nickel silver, ivory, brass, mother-of-pearl, British
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Bugle in C, Thomas Key British, Silver-gilt, British
Bugle in C
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Baton
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