RevolutionCrossroads/si_us_revolutionary_era_collections huggingface dataset:
Nägelé Square Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1785
maker: Nagele
Place Made: France: Île-de-France, Paris
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This square piano is attributed to Jn. Nägelé in Paris, France after 1800. The inscription on the nameboard reads “Jn. Nägelé / Rue de la Tixérandérie en face du Mouton No 15 à Paris 1785.” It is doubtful that this piano was made by Nägelé as several factors about this instrument are problematic. Though the nameboard is inscribed with the date 1785, it was originally made for a smaller instrument and has been extended on both ends. There is also indication that the compass of the piano has been extended. 1785 is too early a date for a piano with this compass. This piano is serial number 15 and has a compass of FF-f4, single (Zumpe) action, leather hammers, double-strings throughout, first 12 notes are wound, tuning pins on the right, 2 knee levers: lute (missing) and dampers, wood frame, and a wood case.
Neilson Square Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1807-1815
maker: Neilson, Samuel
Place Made: United States: New York, New York City
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This square piano was made by Samuel Neilson in New York, New York around 1807-1815. He was listed at 19 Barclay Street, the address on the nameboard of the piano, during this time period. The only other known instrument by Samuel Neilson is a 6-octave square piano in he Kenneth G. Fiske Museum of Musical Instruments. This piano has a compass of FF-c4, an English double action, leather covered with felt hammers, double-strings throughout, with tuning pins on the right, 1 pedal: dampers, wood frame, and a mahogany (?) case.
Perry Square Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1809 - 1811
maker: Perry, Richard
Place Made: United States: New York, New York City
Physical Description: maple (inlay material)
Measurements: overall: 9 1/4 in x 65 in x 23 3/4 in; 23.495 cm x 165.1 cm x 60.325 cm
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This square piano was made by Richard Perry in New York, New York around 1809-1811. Piano makers named Perry are known in Dublin and Belfast in the early 19th century. Richard Perry, possibly and immigrant from Ireland, was recorded in New York only from 1809-1811. This piano has a compass of FF-c4, an English double action, double-strings throughout, tuning pins on right, wood frame, and a mahogany case.
Non-pedal Harp
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: harp
date made: 1775-1799
user: Adams, Louisa Catherine
place made: Europe
Measurements: overall: 63 in x 16 1/4 in x 28 1/2 in; 160.02 cm x 41.275 cm x 72.39 cm
Credit line: The Adams-Clement Collection in memory of Louisa Catherine Adams Clement
Topics: Musical instruments
Music
Description (Brief): This harp was made by an unknown maker in Europe, around 1775-1799. It is a non-pedal model with 35 strings. This harp features a gold column decorated with ram's heads and Egyptian figures. This harp was previously owned by Louisa Catherine Adams (née Johnson (1775–1852), wife of President John Quincy Adams and First Lady of the United States from 1825 to 1829.
Schmidt Grand Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1788
maker: Schmidt, Johann
Place Made: Austria: Salzburg, Salzburg
Physical Description: leather over wood cores (hammers material)
brass; iron (strings material)
wood (frame material)
walnut veneered (case material)
Measurements: overall: 11 in x 38 1/2 in x 84 in; 27.94 cm x 97.79 cm x 213.36 cm
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This grand piano was made by Johann Schmidt in Salzburg, Austria around 1788. It is a beautiful example of the Austrian concert grand of Mozart’s and Haydn’s time, and is in playable condition. This piano has a compass of FF-f3, Viennese action with over dampers, leather over wood core hammers, brass and iron strings, double- and triple-strung, 1 hand stop: moderator, 2 knee levers: all dampers and treble dampers, wood frame, straight-strung, and a walnut veneered case.
Schneider Square Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1772 - 1778
Place Made: Germany: Bavaria, Nuremberg
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This square piano was made by Johann Friedrich Julius Schneider in Nuremberg, Germany around 1775. It has an early Prell action which is fairly typical of South German and Austrian square pianos in the latter part of the 18th century. This piano has a compass of FF-f3, an early Prell (hitch-pin rail acts as Prelleiste, or escapement rail), leather hammers, double-strings, tuning pins on right, 1 hand stop: lute, with tuning pins on right, 1 knee lever (missing): dampers, wood frame, and a conifer case.
Sellers Square Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1778 - 1782
maker: Sellers, John
Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Credit line: Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description: This square piano was made by John Sellers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1794-1796. Because the name board probably came from another maker’s piano, it has been speculated that this instrument could have been made by John Behrent or James Juhan of Philadelphia, or that Sellers rebuilt someone else’s piano. The unusually short compass would suggest an earlier date than Sellers is known, and the action type and knee-lever might indicate that the maker was originally German or Austrian. The piano has a compass of C-f3, and early Prell action, leather hammers, first 10 notes are single-strung and the rest double-strung, with tuning pins on right, 1 knee-lever: dampers, a wood frame, and a mahogany case.
Sellers Square Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1808-1812
maker: Sellers, John
Place Made: United States: Virginia, Alexandria
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This square piano was made by John Sellers in Alexandria, Virginia about 1810. The inscription on the piano reads “John SELLERS / Musical Instrument Maker / ALEXANDRIA.” This piano has a compass of FF-f3, an English single (Zumpe type), double-strings, 1 knee lever: dampers (?), wood frame, and a mahogany with light and dark stringing.
Stodart & Co. Grand Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1790
maker: Robert Stodart & Co.
Place Made: United Kingdom: England, London
Physical Description: brass (overall material)
iron (overall material)
leather (overall material)
wood (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 13 1/4 in x 38 in x 86 in; 33.655 cm x 96.52 cm x 218.44 cm
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This grand piano was made by Robert Stodart & Co. in London, England in 1790. Robert Stodart was one of the leading English piano makers in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He worked with John Broadwood and Americus Backers on the design of what came to be known as the English grand action, and it was patented in Stodart’s name. This piano has a compass of FF-f3, an English grand action, leather hammers, brass and iron strings, triple-strung, 2 pedals: una corda and dampers, wood frame with three gap spacers, straight-strung, and a mahogany veneered case.
Tawse Square Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1795-1796
maker: Tawse, Charles
Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This square piano was made by Charles Tawse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1795-1796. Tawse also spelled his name Taws and Tawes. This piano is believed to be serial number 22 and has a compass of FF-f3, single (file drawing) action, leather hammers, double-strings, first octave wound, with tuning pins at rear, 2 knee levers: dampers and swell, wood frame, and a mahogany case.
Tawse Square Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1792-1793
maker: Tawse, Charles
Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This square piano was made by Charles Tawse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1792-1793. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland and came to New York in 1786 where he advertised as an organ builder and instrument repairer. A year later, he moved to Philadelphia, and was engaged in a number of other musical activities, teaching piano and publishing music in addition to making organs and pianos. This piano has a compass of FF-f3, an English double action, leather hammers, single-strings for the first 12 notes, the rest are double-strings, with tuning pins at rear, 2 knee levers: dampers and swell, wood frame, and a wood case.
Tomkison Square Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
date made: 1800 - 1810
maker: Tomkison, Thomas
Place Made: United Kingdom: England, London
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This square piano was made by Thomas Tomkison in London, England around 1810-1812. Tomkison received appointment as maker to the Prince of Wales about 1810, which he stated on his name boards until 1820, when the Prince became King George IV. In 1820 he began to put “Maker to His Majesty” in his inscriptions. The name board inscription reads: “THOMAS TOMKISON / DEAN ST SOHO / PIANO-FORTE / MAKER / TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS / THE PRINCE OF WALES.” This piano is serial number 1965 and has a compass of FF-c4, single action, leather hammers, double-strings, with tuning pins at right, 1 pedal (missing): dampers (?), wood case, an a mahogany case.
Square Piano
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: piano
Date made: 1770 - 1790
place made: Germany
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Pianos
Music
Description (Brief): This piano from an unknown maker was made in Germany around 1770-1790. The piano has a compass of FF-f3, 3 hand stops, and a wood case.
Kirkman Single Manual Harpsichord
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: harpsichord
date made: 1776
maker: Kirkman, Jacob
Kirkman, Abraham
place made: United Kingdom: England, London
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
metal (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 36 3/4 in x 36 3/4 in x 87 1/4 in; 93.345 cm x 93.345 cm x 221.615 cm
overall: 12 1/2 in x 36 1/2 in x 87 1/2 in; 31.75 cm x 92.71 cm x 222.25 cm
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Topics: Musical instruments
Harpsichords
Music
Description (Brief): This harpsichord was made by Jacob and Abraham Kirkman in London, England in 1776. It is a single manual harpsichord with a compass of FF - f3 (no FF#), and a disposition of 2 x 8’, 1 x 4’. This instrument has a spruce soundboard, and ivory naturals and ebony accidentals. There are three hand stops: one on bass side (octave 4’) and two on treble side of nameboard (first unison 8’, second unison 8’). The nameboard is inscribed: “Jacobus et Abraham Kirckman Londini Fecerunt 1776.” The soundboard contains a 3” diameter rose of gilt metal with musical instruments and the initials “IK.”
The inseparable case is made of mahogany veneered wood with crotch mahogany panels with holly stringing and plain mahogany cross banding. The keyboard well has burl walnut veneer with holly stringing and light walnut cross banding.
This harpsichord was previously in the Morris Steinert Collection of Keyed and Stringed Instruments in New Haven, Connecticut. A Steinert catalog from the 1890’s describes this harpsichord as “formerly owned by Napoleon Bonaparte; was given, after his banishment to St. Helena, to a French sergeant, who bought it with him to this country, where he settled at Scituate, Mass. In 1833 he sold the instrument to Simon Bates, of Scituate Harbor Light, and by inheritance it passed into the hands of his son, James G. Bates, who is still alive, and from him into the possession of his daughter, Mrs. M. Wharff, now living at Gloucester, Mass., of whom M. Steinert purchased it.”
Unfretted Clavichord
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Clavichord
date made: 1795 - 1805
place made: Germany
Physical Description: oak (case material)
spruce or pin (soundboard material)
ebony (naturals material)
ivory (accidentals material)
Measurements: overall: clavichord: 10 1/4 in x 69 in x 22 in; 26.035 cm x 175.26 cm x 55.88 cm
Credit line: Gift of Hugo Worch
Swiss Pipe Organ
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: organ
date made: 1775-1799
place made: Switzerland
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
metal (overall material)
paint (overall material)
ivory (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 81 in x 67 1/4 in x 36 1/2 in; 205.74 cm x 170.815 cm x 92.71 cm
Credit line: Gift of Dr. Lukas F. Burckhardt
Topics: Musical instruments
Music
Organs
Description: <p>This pipe organ was made by an undetermined maker, possibly in Toggenburg, Switzerland, around 1775-1799. It has a single keyboard, with a compass of C - c3. The organ’s stop list is as follows:</p>
<p>8' Gedeckt<br>4' Principal<br>4' Flute<br>2' Octave<br>1 1/3 Quint<br>1' Octave</p>
<i>German Scheitholt</i> Zither
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: zither
date made: 1800s
maker: Daugherty, George
place made: United States: Kentucky, Grider
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 2 in x 3 1/2 in x 33 7/8 in; 5.08 cm x 8.89 cm x 86.0425 cm
Topics: Musical instruments
Music
Dulcimers
Description: This <i>German scheithaolt</i> style dulcimer was made by George Daugherty in Grider, Kentucky in the 1800s. It has a trapezoidal shaped body made if pine, with eight strings (four melody and four drone strings), wood nut and bridge, 15 metal frets, 2 round sound holes, and flat-top metal screws functioning as tuning pins (probably not original to instrument).
Green New England Bass Viol
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: viol
date made: 1806
maker: Green, William
Place Made: United States: Massachusetts, Medway
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
Topics: Musical instruments
Music
Religion
Artifact Walls exhibit
Description: <p>This New England Bass Viol was made by William Green in Medway, Massachusetts, in 1806. It is constructed of local domestic wood; table of broad grained pine (?) in two pieces; back of plain maple (?) in two pieces; ribs of similar maple; plain maple neck, pegbox and scroll, stained maple pegs, fingerboard and tailpiece; varnish highly crazed, opaque reddish orange-brown. The instrument has an original handwritten label:</p>
<p>Bass Viols Made & Sold<br>by William Green.<br>Medway 1806</p>
<p>Unlike many New England bass viols, this instrument is constructed with interior linings and corner blocks, and the ribs are not inlaid, but glued flush to the table and back. The instrument is ornamented by single painted purfling with a small xxxx pattern beneath the button on the back. The neck and top-block section, carved from a single piece of maple, is positioned inside the back with a small iron pin through the extended neck-foot. This bass viol is also unusually fine and intact excepting strings, bridge and soundpost.</p>
<p>William Green worked from 1798 to 1800 with William Bent in Boston. After dissolving their partnership, Green moved to Medway to make bass viols where he was joined by Deacon Allen from about 1815 to 1818. Green died ca. 1825.</p>
<p>The modern term for this instrument is church bass. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, this instrument was also known as the American bass viol, New England bass viol, or Yankee bass viol. These church basses were used in churches and meeting houses to provide a bass line for maintaining a consistent key by New England congregational singers. The church bass was also used by popular singing groups such as the Hutchinson Family singers.</p>
Cello Bow
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: bow
date made: 1780-1800?
Measurements: overall: 1 1/4 in x 9/16 in x 27 13/16 in; 3.175 cm x 1.42875 cm x 70.64375 cm
Credit line: Bequest of Janos Scholz
Cello Bow
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: bow
date made: 1785-1795
Measurements: overall: 1 3/8 in x 5/8 in x 27 3/8 in; 3.4925 cm x 1.5875 cm x 69.5325 cm
Credit line: Bequest of Janos Scholz
Widhalm Violin
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: violin
date made: 1782
maker: Widhalm, Martin Leopold
Place Made: Germany: Bavaria, Nuremberg
Physical Description: spruce (table material)
maple (back material)
Measurements: overall: 23 1/2 in x 8 in x 4 in; 59.69 cm x 20.32 cm x 10.16 cm
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Evelyn A. Johnstone
Topics: Musical instruments
Music
Violins
Description: This violin was made by Leopold (Martin) Widhalm in Nuremberg, Germany in 1782. He was the eldest son of violin maker Leopold Widhalm (1722-1776). His work is generally less refined than that of his father, with rather narrow purfling close to the rounded edge. This Widhalm example in the style of Stainer is typical, with a rather high built arching that is broad in the breast area with narrow edge and purfling set into pronounced channelling. This violin is made of a two-piece table of spruce, back of maple in two pieces cut on quarter with mild, fine gently descending figure, ribs of similar maple, grafted neck onto the original maple peg-box and scroll, and a semi-transparent orange-brown varnish.
Friedrich G. A. Kirst 1-Keyed Flute
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: flute
Date made: 1776-1778
maker: Kirst, Friedrich Gabriel A.
Physical Description: boxwood (overall material)
ivory (overall material)
silver (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 25 in x 1 1/2 in x 1 1/2 in; 63.5 cm x 3.81 cm x 3.81 cm
Credit line: Gift of James M. Swain
Topics: Musical instruments
Music
Flutes
Description: <p>This flute was made by Friedrich Gabriel August Kirst in Potsdam, Germany around 1776 to 1778. It is a 1-keyed flute made of boxwood with ivory ferrules and crown cap, an ivory embouchure hole, and a silver key. This flute is stamped:</p>
<p>F.G.A.KIRST<br>POTSDAM</p>
English 7-Keyed Flute
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: flute
Date made: 1795-1805
maker: Saust, Charles
place made: United Kingdom: England, London
Physical Description: rosewood (overall material)
silver (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 26 in x 1 1/2 in x 1 3/4 in; 66.04 cm x 3.81 cm x 4.445 cm
Credit line: Gift of James M. Swain
Topics: Musical instruments
Music
Flutes
Description: <p>This flute was made by an unknown maker in England around 1795 to 1805. It is a 7-keyed flute, made of rosewood with silver ferrules and keys. This flute is stamped:</p>
<p>SAUST<br>22 and READING<br>LONDON<br>22</p>
<p>Charles Saust (1773 – ca. 1845) was born in Ballenstedt, Germany and by the early 19th century had moved to London. Saust was a prominent flute player and teacher, and composed and arranged music for flute. This flute was likely made using Saust’s specifications for sale in music shops.</p>
William Henry Potter 6-Keyed Flute
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: flute
date made: 1809-1814
maker: Potter, William Henry
place made: United Kingdom: England, London
Physical Description: boxwood (overall material)
silver (overall material)
ivory (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 26 1/2 in x 1 1/2 in x 1 1/2 in; 67.31 cm x 3.81 cm x 3.81 cm
Credit line: Gift of James M. Swain
Topics: Musical instruments
Music
Flutes
Description: <p>This flute was made by William Henry Potter in London, England around 1809 to 1814. It is a 6-keyed flute, made of boxwood with ivory ferrules, an ivory crown cap, and silver keys. This flute is stamped:</p>
<p>6<br>POTTER<br>JOHNSON'S COURT<br>FLEET STREET<br>LONDON<br>PATENT<br>WILLM HENY<br>POTTER</p>
<p>William Henry Potter (1760-1848) was granted British Patent #3136 on May 28, 1808 for “Improvements in German flutes and other musical instruments.” The patent specification indicates:</p>
<p>“These consist in giving a sliding motion to the valves by which the holes of German flutes and other wind musical instruments, usually stopped by keys with valves, are stopped and opened. The valve is kept close by a spring across the instrument to a flat metal plate let into the flute, and having a hole through it to admit the wind. The spring is shown attached to various parts of the keys of a German flute, but the same or a similar description is stated as applicable to all other wind musical instruments.”</p>
William Henry Potter 6-Keyed Flute
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: flute
Date made: 1808-1810
maker: Potter, William Henry
place made: United Kingdom: England, London
Physical Description: boxwood (overall material)
ivory (overall material)
silver (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 27 in x 1 1/2 in; 68.58 cm x 3.81 cm
Credit line: Gift of Captain & Mrs. Noel S. O’Reilly
Topics: Musical instruments
Music
Flutes
Description: <p>This flute was made by William Henry Potter in London, England around 1808 to 1810. It is a 6-keyed flute made of boxwood with ivory ferrules, an ivory crown cap, and silver keys. This flute is accessioned with a period walnut case. The flute is stamped:</p>
<p>PATENT<br>6<br>WILLM.HENY<br>POTTER<br>JOHNSON'S COURT<br>FLEET STREET<br>LONDON</p>
<p>William Henry Potter (1760-1848) was granted British Patent #3136 on May 28, 1808 for “Improvements in German flutes and other musical instruments.” The patent specification indicates:</p>
<p>“These consist in giving a sliding motion to the valves by which the holes of German flutes and other wind musical instruments, usually stopped by keys with valves, are stopped and opened. The valve is kept close by a spring across the instrument to a flat metal plate let into the flute, and having a hole through it to admit the wind. The spring is shown attached to various parts of the keys of a German flute, but the same or a similar description is stated as applicable to all other wind musical instruments.”</p>
American Pitch Pipe
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: pitch pipe
date made: 1790-1810
maker: Law, Andrew
place made: United States: New England
Physical Description: wood (overall material)
ivory (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 3 3/8 in x 1 3/16 in x 6 5/16 in; 8.5725 cm x 3.01625 cm x 16.03375 cm
Topics: Musical instruments
Music
Description: This pitch pipe was made by an unknown maker in the United States, around 1790-1810. It is in “book” form, made of mahogany and blond fruitwood with ivory and wood inlays and a wood slide inlaid and inscribed with an octave scale. As indicated in the accession paperwork, this pitch pipe was made for American singing teacher and composer, Andrew Law (1749 - 1821).
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