Object Details
- Hitchcock, Thomas
- Description (Brief)
- This harpsichord was made by Thomas Hitchcock in London, around 1703-1710. It is a bentside spinet with a compass of GG - g3, and a disposition of 1 x 8’. This instrument has a spruce soundboard, and ebony naturals with ivory arcade front and “skunk tail” accidentals. The nameboard is inscribed: “Thomas Hitchcock Londini Fecit No. 1228.” The jackrail is inscribed: “ACTI LABORES JUCUNDI” (labors are pleasant).
- The inseparable case is made of walnut with two large ornamented brass hinges. The keyboard cover has three smaller brass hinges and a brass lock plate. The stand with turned legs is not original.
- Thomas Hitchcock was a prolific spinet maker, producing over a thousand instruments in his lifetime. There is only one known full-size harpsichord by Thomas Hitchcock which is in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of Hugo Worch
- 1705 - 1715
- ID Number
- MI.303532
- accession number
- 62559
- catalog number
- 303532
- Object Name
- harpsichord
- Physical Description
- wood, walnut (case material)
- metal (overall material)
- wood, spruce (soundboard material)
- ebony (naturals material)
- ivory (accidentals material)
- quill (plectra material)
- Measurements
- instrument: 7 in x 73 3/4 in x 27 1/4 in; 17.78 cm x 187.325 cm x 69.215 cm
- overall: harpsichord: 7 in x 73 1/2 in x 28 in; 17.78 cm x 186.69 cm x 71.12 cm
- place made
- United Kingdom: England, London
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
- Music & Musical Instruments
- Harpsichords
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_605993
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b3-92e2-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
