Alexandre Pere et Fils Reed Organ (Harmonium): Museum Object and Cultural History
Alexandre Pere et Fils Reed Organ (Harmonium): date made: 1897-1899. Object Name: organ. Measurements: overall: 40 1/4 in x 52 in x 27 in; 102.235 cm x 132.08 cm x 68.58 cm.
The object in the museum catalogue
This reed organ was made by Alexandre Pere et Fils in Paris, France, around 1897-1899. It is a harmonium with a single keyboard, with a compass of C - c3. This instrument has 4 full ranks reeds, 2 half ranks, and 2 pedals.
Jacob Alexandre (1804-1876) formed a company in Paris making accordions and harmonicas, in 1829. Jacob Alexandre’s son, Edouard (1824-1888) joined the firm in the mid-1840s when the company began producing instruments under the name “melodeum organs,” as the name “harmonium” was registered by French inventor Alexandre-François Debain (1809-1877). Originally called “Alexandre et Fils” the firm’s name later became “Alexandre Père et Fils.” The company was acquired by the Fortin Brothers in,1907.
Materials, dates and provenance
- date made: 1897-1899
- Object Name: organ
- Measurements: overall: 40 1/4 in x 52 in x 27 in; 102.235 cm x 132.08 cm x 68.58 cm
- place made: France: Île-de-France, Paris
- ID Number: 1983.0497.01
- accession number: 1983.0497
- catalog number: 1983.0497.01
- Credit Line: Gift of Roger G. Kennedy
- Data Source: National Museum of American History
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Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.
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