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Hook harp
late 18th or early 19th century
Object Place: Bohemia
Medium/Technique
Fir, walnut
Dimensions
Height 149.8 cm, width 59.7 cm, depth 30 cm (Height 59 in., width 23 1/2 in., depth 11 13/16 in.)
Credit Line
Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection
Accession Number17.1786
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsMusical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Chordophones
DescriptionQuadrangular soundbox. Back, sides, and soundboard of fir (Abies alba). Soundboard grain oriented horizontally. Three pairs of soundholes in soundboard, each composed of circular pattern of smaller holes. Two small feet of iron at rear lower edge of soundbox. Pillar of fir (Abies alba) with circular cross section; carved swags along both sides of top. Neck composed of two laminations of hardwood (possibly walnut). String pegs of wood stained black. Eleven U-shaped hooks of brass, positioned to raise pitch of F, C, f, b, c1, f1, b1, c2, f2, b2, and c3 one half step. Pitch names painted in white on neck by each string. Tuning pins of iron. Compass of BB to a3 (thirty-five strings).
ProvenanceFrancis W. Galpin (1858-1945), Hatfield Regis, England; 1916, sold by Francis W. Galpin to William Lindsey (1858-1922), Boston, Massachusetts; 1916, gift of William Lindsey, in memory of his daughter, Leslie Lindsey Mason, to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 5, 1916)