Clavioline: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This clavioline was made by Société Le Clavioline in Paris, France, around1947-1955. It is comprised of a combination amplifier/speaker and 3 octave piano attachment Type CM, Series 8, Serial #1424. The clavioline is a member of the keyboard family of musical instruments and is attached to a piano, under the right-hand end of the piano keyboard. It is played with the right hand on the Clavioline and the left hand on the piano, thus achieving the sound of a piano and organ played together. There are 18 stop-tabs. There is an engraved nameplate:

“Clavioline” S.A.R.L. Paris, 9 Rue Richponse Type CM, Série 8, No. 1424 License Constant Martin License Réne Bouveau Made in France Bté S.G.D.G. – Patented – Patents Pending

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date made: 1947 to 1955
• maker: Societe Le Clavioline
• Object Name: clavioline
• Physical Description: wood (overall material)
• Physical Description: metal (overall material)
• Physical Description: glass (overall material)
• Physical Description: plastic (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 17 1/2 in x 22 in x 9 1/2 in; 44.45 cm x 55.88 cm x 24.13 cm
• place made: France: Île-de-France, Paris
• ID Number: 1987.0122.01
• accession number: 1987.0122
• catalog number: 1987.0122.01
• Credit Line: Grift of Rose E. and Prof. Seymour R. Kesten
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

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.