This instrument is based on a French harpsichord made by
Anton Lefebvre who worked in Paris c.1680.
Original French harpsichords of the 17th century are rare.
Lefebvre's instrument is one of only about five single manual
French harpsichords known to have survived from this period.
Other double manual instruments are known but even
this list is relatively short. However those that have
survived evidently belong to an early indigenous
school of harpsichord building. They were
markedly different in many aspects of their
design and construction to the instruments of
Blanchet and Hemch that became established
in a national style at the beginning of the
18th century. These early French
harpsichords show constructional details
similar to those of both the Italian and
Flemish schools of instrument building.
They are noted for their light and
responsive keyboards with naturals
covered usually with ebony and the
sharps of either bone or ivory. On this
instrument a trefoil motif is carved
directly into the ends of the key
levers.At each end of the keyboard
the blocks have a scrolled top
surface reminiscent of Italian
work and the removable
name-board drops from
the level of the sides
in a decorative scroll
to just above the
wrest plank. The
soundboards of these
early instruments
were almost always
decorated with
The Frence Harpsichord
flowers and butterflies etc. and the soundhole fitted with a
pierced parchment rose.
Specification:
Compass: GG - d"'
Disposition: 2 x 8, Strung throughout in brass.
Pitch: a'= 415Hz.
Dimensions: 1915mm x 800mm x 190mm
(850mm high with stand).
©2019 Carl Rennoldson BSc.