Hitchcock Spinet: Museum Object and Cultural History
Hitchcock Spinet: date made: 1705-1715. maker: Hitchcock, Thomas. Object Name: harpsichord.
The object in the museum catalogue
This harpsichord was made by Thomas Hitchcock in London, around 1705-1715. It is a bentside spinet, serial #1287, with a compass of GG - g3, and a disposition of 1 x 8’. The soundboard is made of spruce. This instrument has ivory naturals and “skunktail” accidentals of ebony and ivory. The name board is inscribed: “Thomas Hitchcock London Fecit No.1287.”
The inseparable case is made of walnut with three ornamented brass hinges. The keyboard cover has three smaller brass hinges and a brass lock plate. The trestle stand is made of turned walnut.
Materials, dates and provenance
- date made: 1705-1715
- maker: Hitchcock, Thomas
- Object Name: harpsichord
- Object Name: harpsichord jack
- Physical Description: wood (overall material)
- Physical Description: metal (overall material)
- Measurements: overall: jack: 3/16 in x 3 1/2 in x 7/16 in; .47625 cm x 8.89 cm x 1.11125 cm
- Measurements: overall: 7 3/4 in x 74 in x 29 in; 19.685 cm x 187.96 cm x 73.66 cm
- place made: United Kingdom: England, London
- ID Number: MI.62.382
- accession number: 241783
- catalog number: 62.382
- Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. John Magruder
- 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.
Sources
More in Music
Keep reading
