Parlor Organ

Object/Artifact

-

New Museum Los Gatos

Name/Title

Parlor Organ

Entry/Object ID

NU 2023.264

Description

A wooden reed/pump organ. The top portion of the organ features a rectangular mirror, in addition to many decorative elements, including little wooden balls along the top edge, little wooden balls along the edge of a ledge underneath the mirror, and carved leaf and berry motifs on the top shelf and on either side of the mirror. There is a slanted shelf with the same motif in the center of the organ, where the sheet music is intended to go; on either side of that are carved geometric elements. The keys are black and white, and directly above the keys are 11 labeled knobs that can be pulled. There is a curved geometric pattern carved into the wood below the keys. The bottom section of the organ consists of a flat wooden backing with vertical stripes carved into the wood, as well as two pedals covered in red carpet.

Collection

History Collection

Cataloged By

[email protected]

Made/Created

Manufacturer

A.H. Whitney Company

Date made

circa 1850 - circa 1870

Time Period

19th Century

Edition

No. 30183

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Makers Mark

Location

Painted, above the keys

Transcription

The A.H. Whitney Company / Quincy, Illinois, U.S.A.

Language

English

Material/Technique

Painted

Type

Label

Location

On the knobs above the keys

Transcription

Principal / Diapason / Dulcet / Bass Couplet / Diapason Forte / Vox Humana / Flute Forte / Treble Coupler / Echo Horn / Melodia / Celeste

Language

English

Material/Technique

Printed

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Organ, Parlor

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Organ

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Instrument, Keyboard

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Musical Instruments

Nomenclature Class

Musical T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 06: Tools & Equipment for Communication

Dimensions

Height

75-1/2 in

Width

49-7/8 in

Depth

23-1/8 in

Material

Wood, Bone, Fabric

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Exhibitions

The Los Gatos History Project: Uncovering Untold Stories - Phase 2
The Los Gatos History Project: Uncovering Untold Stories - Phase 3