Images(3)

Square piano

Date1804 (dated)

Maker Jacob Kirckman

MediumMahogany: case (solid), lid (solid), stand apron facings and legs, hammer shanks, damper levers, hammer-rail cap, key slip, action brackets; Beech: bridge; Spruce: soundboard; Sycamore: nameboard veneer; Oak: hitch-pin rail veneer, key frame, spine; Softwoods: stand apron substrate, nameboard substrate, bottom; Limewood: key levers; Purpleheart: keywell banding; Ebony: sharps; Ivory: natural key tops; Iron: tuning pins (blued); Brass: lid hooks, bridge pins, nut pins, balance pins

DimensionsNet dimensions exclude lid, stand and projecting moldings. All dimensions in mm except where noted. Length: 1,655 mm (net 1,645 mm); Width: 573 mm (net 562 mm); Height: 867 mm (net 228 mm)

Credit LineGift of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Sears, Jr.

Object number2003-72

DescriptionCASE DECORATION: This plain or very mildly striped mahogany case has zigzag-pattern string banding forming one rectangle each on the sides and front. The bottom edging is plain, with a molding at the top.
KEYWELL: The keywell has curly sycamore veneer with black and white stringing around it and purpleheart(?) around the perimeter. The inscription is penned on the sycamore.
LID: This has a solid mahogany thumb-molded lid in three sections, including narrow flaps over the keyboard and soundboard front. There are six lid flap hinges (three each for the two narrow flaps). There are two main lid hinges, the part on the spine being a coved shield shape. A single lid prop is attached to the proper right inner rim. The proper left end of the case has two hooks (one missing) for the main lid and the soundboard flap. The proper right end of the case has only one hook (a second would be redundant on that side). The string banding goes all around the top of the lid. The piano once had a music rack integral with the folded-back lid, but the rack piece is missing, leaving only plugged holes as evidence.
STAND AND PEDALS: The French frame stand has a thumb molding around the top, and a knee recess. The apron and legs have thin white and black stringing. All bolt covers are missing. The music shelf and pedal column are missing. There is a loss of about 6 inches at the top proper left apron at the top molding. The original casters survive in good but dirty condition.
INTERNAL NOTES: The dust board supports survive, but without the dust board. A folding music desk consisting of three verticals and a single horizontal is attached in the usual way to the back of the nameboard. The soundboard fretwork is complete and the green silk cloth completely intact.
COMPASS: FF–c4
OCTAVES: 5 oct. + 7 notes
STOPS: One pedal, now missing, raised the dampers by sliding a wedged support under a buff leather-topped batten that lifted the damper levers. There is no sign of any handstop pivot in the case block at the bass end.
Inscribed"Joseph Kirckman / Piano Forte Maker / to her Majesty / London 1804" in ink on nameboard
Markings• "IIIV" stamped on top of right stand apron
• The keys are stamped with numbers.
ProvenanceSold to Thomas Sears via another dealer on Apr. 4, 1981, by S. Nager, a dealer in Massachusetts

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Purchased by donors from S. Nager, a Massachusetts dealer, on April 4, 1982, via another dealer.

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