Harpsichord
1776 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Jacob Kirckman (1710-1792) was hailed as 'the first harpsichord maker of the times' by Fanny Burney (1752-1846), the leading lady novelist of her day. A native of Alsace, France, Kirckman settled in London in the early 1730s, where he married the widow of his employer Hermann Tabel in 1738. In 1770 he went into a very profitable partnership with his nephew Abraham (1737-1794), and his rich-sounding instruments were much in demand.
Kirckman fitted his instruments, like this one, with a 'nag's head swell', a moving flap fixed to the lid which helped vary the volume, so that they could compete with pianos, which were becoming increasingly popular in England from the 1760s onwards. Although the harpsichord was virtually eclipsed by the piano by about 1800, Kirckman's instruments remained much sought after and were still being produced in 1809.
Kirckman fitted his instruments, like this one, with a 'nag's head swell', a moving flap fixed to the lid which helped vary the volume, so that they could compete with pianos, which were becoming increasingly popular in England from the 1760s onwards. Although the harpsichord was virtually eclipsed by the piano by about 1800, Kirckman's instruments remained much sought after and were still being produced in 1809.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | The case of oak veneered in mahogany, with panels outlined with sycamore stringing; the keyboard surround veneered in burr walnut with sycamore stringing. |
| Brief description | Harpsichord on stand, the case veneered in mahogany inlaid with sycamore stringing, in rectangular panels, the keyboard surrounds veneered in burr walnut, cross-banded with tulipwood and with sycamore stringing |
| Physical description | Harpsichord on stand, the case of oak veneered in mahogany inlaid with sycamore stringing, in rectangular panels, the keyboard surrounds veneered in burr walnut, cross-banded with tulipwood and with sycamore stringing. Teh soundboard is of spruce. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | HARPSICHORD, English, by Jacob and Abraham Kirckman, London, 1776, inscribed Jacobus et Abraham Kirckman Londini fecerunt 1776. Spruce soundboard, mahogany veneered case with sycamore stringing. Keyboard compass sixty notes, FF - f3, one four-foot, two eight -foot stops and one lute stop. Nag's head swell.
Museum No.: W.43-1927
Keyboard Catalogue No.: 33
From about 1770, various devices such as the Venetian swell and the nag's head swell were being contrived by English builders to vary the tone and volume of the harpsichord, in emulation of the new effects being brought out on the piano. The last three decades of the eighteenth century saw the zenith of English harpsichord making.
Jacob Kirckman (1710-1792) from Alsace settled in London in the 1730s and produced fine harpsichords in partnership with his nephew Abraham in 1772 and his son Joseph from 1789. The firm built its last harpsichord in 1809.
Given to the V & A by F.S. Dayman, Esq.(pre September 2000) |
| Summary | Jacob Kirckman (1710-1792) was hailed as 'the first harpsichord maker of the times' by Fanny Burney (1752-1846), the leading lady novelist of her day. A native of Alsace, France, Kirckman settled in London in the early 1730s, where he married the widow of his employer Hermann Tabel in 1738. In 1770 he went into a very profitable partnership with his nephew Abraham (1737-1794), and his rich-sounding instruments were much in demand. Kirckman fitted his instruments, like this one, with a 'nag's head swell', a moving flap fixed to the lid which helped vary the volume, so that they could compete with pianos, which were becoming increasingly popular in England from the 1760s onwards. Although the harpsichord was virtually eclipsed by the piano by about 1800, Kirckman's instruments remained much sought after and were still being produced in 1809. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.43 to C-1927 |
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| Record created | May 16, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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