Folding harpsichord

Rijk van Arkel, 1768

In Paris, 1699, Jean Marius claimed the invention of the folding harpsichord. It was convenient for travelling. The two smaller sections, at right and centre, are hinged and can be closed to form a single long unit which is then folded over the left-hand part. The famous castrato Farinelli owned two such harpsichords, as well as five normal harpsichords and a grand piano.

Artwork typekeyboard instrument, musical instrument, stringed instrument, harpsichord
Object numberBK-NM-5686
Dimensionsheight 14.0 cm x width 73.0 cm x length 99.0 cm

Identification

Title(s)
Folding harpsichord
Object type
Object number
BK-NM-5686
Description
Klavecimbel. Opvouwbaar, met bijbehorende kist.
Inscriptions / marks
date: ‘Rijk van Arkel/ heft dit gemaakt/ Jaar 1768’
Catalogue reference
- Laurence Libin, 'Folding Harpsichords', Early Music 15, nr. 3 (Aug., 1987), p. 378-383: 379, 381
- Giovanni Paolo Di Stefano, 'Enn opvouwbaar klavecimbel. Muziekschatten in het Rijksmuseum', Oude Muziek Magazine (2020/4), p. 10-11
- Jeremy Montagu, 'Instrument plans, books, postcards: Bate Collection, Oxford', FoMRHI Quarterly 68 (1992), p. 6-12: 10
- S. van Milligen, 'Wat moet er met de oude muziek-instrumenten in ons Rijksmuseum geschieden?', Caecilia en de muziek 62 (1905), p. 486
- Igor Kipnis, 'The harpsichord and clavichord: An Encyclopedia', New York: Routledge, 2007, p. 70
- Rudolf A. Rasch, 'The transition from harpsichord to pianoforte in the northern Netherlands', La cultura del fortepiano/Die Kultur des Hammerklaviers 1780-1830, ed. by Richard Bösel, Bologna: Ut Orpheus, 2009, p. 299–320: 304
- Arend Jan Gierveld, 'The Harpsichord and Clavichord in the Dutch Republic', Tijdschrift van de Vereniging voor Nederlandse Muziekgeschiedenis 31, nr. 2 (1981), p. 117-166: 129, afb. 1-2

Creation

Creation
musical instrument maker: Rijk van Arkel, Gouda
Dating
1768
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Material and technique

Material
Dimensions
height 14.0 cm x width 73.0 cm x length 99.0 cm

Acquisition and rights

Credit line
Gift of A.J. Enschedé, Haarlem
Copyright
Public domain

Documentation

- Laurence Libin, 'Folding Harpsichords', Early Music 15, nr. 3 (Aug., 1987), p. 378-383: 379, 381
- Giovanni Paolo Di Stefano, 'Enn opvouwbaar klavecimbel. Muziekschatten in het Rijksmuseum', Oude Muziek Magazine (2020/4), p. 10-11
- Jeremy Montagu, 'Instrument plans, books, postcards: Bate Collection, Oxford', FoMRHI Quarterly 68 (1992), p. 6-12: 10
- S. van Milligen, 'Wat moet er met de oude muziek-instrumenten in ons Rijksmuseum geschieden?', Caecilia en de muziek 62 (1905), p. 486
- Igor Kipnis, 'The harpsichord and clavichord: An Encyclopedia', New York: Routledge, 2007, p. 70
- Rudolf A. Rasch, 'The transition from harpsichord to pianoforte in the northern Netherlands', La cultura del fortepiano/Die Kultur des Hammerklaviers 1780-1830, ed. by Richard Bösel, Bologna: Ut Orpheus, 2009, p. 299–320: 304
- Arend Jan Gierveld, 'The Harpsichord and Clavichord in the Dutch Republic', Tijdschrift van de Vereniging voor Nederlandse Muziekgeschiedenis 31, nr. 2 (1981), p. 117-166: 129, afb. 1-2

Persistent URL

To refer to this object, please use the following persistent URL:
https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200409197