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Anonymous 1716

Description

Date:

1716

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Origin:

Iberian Peninsula

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Serialnumber:

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The Iberian Peninsula, rich in cultural diversity and musical tradition, has produced a unique soundscape over the centuries. Among the many musical treasures of this region, the harpsichord stands out as a rare and fascinating instrument. The history of harpsichords on the Iberian Peninsula dates back to the Renaissance. With the influence of the royal courts and the cultural heyday, the harpsichord spread rapidly from Italy. The artistic inlays and carvings on the harpsichords testify to the craftsmanship and artistic skill of the instrument makers. The Iberian harpsichords of this era were distinguished by their ornate decorations, detailed carvings and excellent sound. Few instruments have survived and even fewer have been copied from the originals.

Harpsichords from the Iberian Peninsula are still rare. So far, research has largely focused on Italian, French or English harpsichords because of the greater number of survived instruments from these regions.

Harpsichord Anonymous Fr. Ant. L. Fec., 1716 – Eric Feller Collection (1)

This single manual harpsichord made by an unknown maker impresses with its excellent sound and the painting on the case and stand. The delicate instrument rests on a richly decorated, two-part frame and has a length of 195 cm. Inside are three sets of jacks. The jacks are made of pear wood and Delrin. The harpsichord also has 3 registers (8′, 8′, 8′ nasal) and a compass of 4 only octaves (C/E – c3) with short octave. The nameboard bears the signature:

“Fr. Ant. L. Fec. / Gloria Deo / Año D. 1716”

Harpsichord Anonymous Fr. Ant. L. Fec., 1716 – Eric Feller Collection (2)

The keyboard is richly decorated and made of pear and boxwood, the soundboard of spruce wood.

Harpsichord Anonymous Fr. Ant. L. Fec., 1716 – Eric Feller Collection (3)

The instrument could not be attributed to any instrument maker yet. Further research is currently in progress. This harpsichord was formerly part of the collection of Richard Burnett, Finchcocks and was acquired for the Eric Feller Collection in 2017. It has been carefully restored and it is in fully playable condition. The sound is very rich in overtones and it is a rare example of instruments from the Iberian Peninsula.

Harpsichord Anonymous Fr. Ant. L. Fec., 1716 – Eric Feller Collection (4)