Concertina

1855–60

Not on view

Wheatstone designed this instrument between 1850 and 1855 to play duets and accompany melodies. Just as with a regular English concertina, pressure and suction give the same note on two different reeds. Both hands nominally play the same twelve notes, but those played with the right hand sound an octave higher.
Wheatstone was not only a physicist and manufacturer but also carried on a publishing business. Soon after 1850 he published an instruction book for the duet concertina and twelve books of arrangements of popular music to promote the introduction of this model.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Exhibition History

References

Title: Concertina
Maker: Charles Wheatstone (1802–1875)
Date: 1855–60
Geography: London, England, United Kingdom
Culture: British
Medium: Mahogany (?), leather, paper, metal (brass, nickel-silver)
Dimensions: H. 15.2 x W. 11.4 x D. 12.7 cm (6 x 4 1/2 x 5 in.)
Classification: Aerophone-Free Reed-concertina / accordion
Credit Line: Purchase, Robert Alonzo Lehman Bequest, 2003
Object Number: 2003.381a, b
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

By Charles Wheatstone

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Concertina, Charles Wheatstone British, Palisander, leather, paper, ivory, British — Concertina
Charles Wheatstone
ca. 1862

Concertina, Charles Wheatstone British, Rosewood, nickel-silver, leather, paper, ivory, tortoiseshell; case of mahogany, British — Concertina
Charles Wheatstone
1831–37

Symphonium, Charles Wheatstone British, nickel silver, ivory, brass, mother-of-pearl, British — Symphonium
Charles Wheatstone
ca. 1835

Accordion, Alexandre Pere & Fils, Wood, metal, mastic, brass, tortoiseshell, gilt brass, mother-of-pearl, silver foil, French — Accordion
Alexandre Pere & Fils
1850–55

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
George Henry Blake
ca. 1840

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.