Barrel Organ

Furniture

-

Boscobel House and Gardens

Name/Title

Barrel Organ

Entry/Object ID

F 61.12

Description

The rectangular barrel organ has an upright organ case on a deep-skirted base or stand. The base stands on square tapered legs ending in thick molded block feet. The underside of the front rail is serpentine. A cupboard door at one end accesses a storage space for two unused song barrels. The upper case has a hinged cover that accesses the playing mechanism. The exterior front has an attached oval frame enclosing a colored print of a lady with children (see more on figures below) at a keyboard organ. A brass hand crank in the upper right corner activates the organ. Four organ stops may be controlled in the lower left corner of the left (I.e., proper right) side of the organ case. A hinged door on that side accesses the song barrel. The organ mechanism has fifteen hammers. Three song barrels or logs, marked "No. 1", "No 2", and "No 3" in black ink on one end are interchangeable by disconnecting the barrel via brass levers. A paper label applied to the underside of the hinged top lists ten melodies for each of the three barrels. The front and back panels of the organ case are removable to access the works. The print reproduces a Joshua Reynolds oil painting of the soprano Elizabeth Ann Linley (1754-1792, née Sheridan) presented in the guise of St Cecilia, patron saint of music, playing the organ for two children. On account of her voice, Linley was nicknamed ‘the Saint’ by theatre director David Garrick. She was also a member of the Blue Stockings Society, a women’s social and educational movement. Her husband, the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816), did not allow her to perform in public. Reynolds's portrait of her as St. Cecilia was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1775 and a print after it was published the following year. Reynolds called it ‘the best picture I ever painted.’In 1773, Linley married Irish playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan, who had defended her honour in two duels the previous year. They had one son, Thomas, together and she also had a daughter, Mary, with Irish revolutionary Lord Edward FitzGerald.

Acquisition

Accession

F 61.12

Source or Donor

Ginsberg & Levy

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Credit Line

Purchase, 1962

Made/Created

Artist

Longman & Broderip

Date made

1790 - 1798

Place

City

London

Country

England

Continent

Europe

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Label

Transcription

Longman & Broderip, London No 26 Cheapside & No 18 Haymarket, London Manufacture, Repairs and sell wholesale retail Organs, Piano Fortes, Harpsichords, Spinnets, Violins, Guitars, Flutes, Fifes, Horns, Clarinets, and Any Other Kind of Musical Instrument Also Engraved Print, The Greatest Variety of Music by the most Approved Masters. We import the best Roman Strings, & Genuine German Wire. Large Allowance to Merchants, Captains of ships & Others who take for sale.

Type

Label

Transcription

Barrel one; 1. Royal Family Minuet 2. Minuet de la Cour 3. Nancy of the dale 4. Je Suis, Lindor 5. Tenducis Rondo 6. Maid of the Mill 7. The Rondeloy 8. Death of Robin Gray 9. La Virginellla 10. Top Sails Shiver in Shiver in Ye Wind Barrel 2: 1. The Myrtle Green 2. Gloster House 3. Hamstead Heath 4. Robinson Crusoe 5. La Bernoise 6. Les Trois Graces 7. La Galatea 8. La Germanique 9. Les Allemande Favouri 10. The Swiss Allemande Barrel 3: 1. Feltons Variations 2. God Save the King 3. The Lord My Pasture 4. Easter Hymn 5. Evening Hymn 6. Burton New 7. Bedford 8. Angels Hymn 9. The 100 Psalm 10. The 104 Psalm

Dimensions

Height

22-1/4 in

Width

16-3/8 in

Depth

46-1/4 in

Materials

Material

Mahogany, Pine, Oak, Light wood inlay

Material Notes

Mahogany, pine, oak, light wood stringing

Condition

Notes

The label is detached, and glass has been removed from the front of the engraved oval panel. In 1965 a complete restoration of the barrel organ was done by Bernard Box Company, 139 Fourth Avenue, Pelham, NY.

Provenance

Notes

Purchased from Ginsburg & Levy, New York, NY, 5/29/1961.