Virgil Tekniklavier: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This clavier is a practice instrument made by Mrs. Antha M. Virgil in New York, New York, around 1910. It is a rectangular-shaped instrument, serial number 1[ ]08, with a compass of AA-c5. Practice claviers such as this one were often stringless or muted, but had piano “action” to train young pianists. Mrs. Antha Virgil was married to Almon Virgil, and together they started producing several practice books, pianos, and lessons in New York. After their divorce around 1900, they started competing in the practice piano market, and Mrs. Virgil produced this Tekniklavier. The instrument is stenciled:

Tekniklavier TRADE MARK REGISTERED MANUFACTURED BY Mrs. A.M. Virgil New York

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1909-1911
• maker: Virgil, Antha M.
• Object Name: piano
• Physical Description: wood (overall material)
• Physical Description: ivory (overall material)
• Physical Description: ebony (overall material)
• Physical Description: metal (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 35 in x 54 in x 20 1/2 in; 88.9 cm x 137.16 cm x 52.07 cm
• place made: United States: New York, New York
• ID Number: 1983.0482.01
• accession number: 1983.0482
• catalog number: 1983.0482.01
• Credit Line: Gift of Dorothy L. Klausli
• 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.