AMSTERDAM, ATTRIBUTED TO HERMANUS TER HART OR HERMANUS KNIPSCHEER II (1802-1874), CIRCA 1850-1855

Details

A DUTCH IVORY-MOUNTED MAHOGANY ORGAN SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT
AMSTERDAM, ATTRIBUTED TO HERMANUS TER HART OR HERMANUS KNIPSCHEER II (1802-1874), CIRCA 1850-1855
The rounded rectangular cornice above a ripple moulding and a moulded frieze, and a detachable panelled front enclosing a folding ebony and ivory keyboard and a detachable pierced green fabric-lined sound fret with scrolling foliage and simulated drawers, hung with a detachable music sheet holder flanked to either side by folding gilt-bronze single-light candelabra and five palmwood stop-knobs with stop-plates inscribed for the bass: HOLPIJP 8v FLUIT 4v OCTAAF 2v FLUIT 1v TREMULAND and for the treble: PRESTANT 8v HOLPIJP 8v FLUIT 4v OCTAAF 2v TERS (1 3/5), the lower section with two panelled doors enclosing the slider chest with both pewter and pinewood organ pipes, stop- and keyboard mechanism and the single rise bellow with feeder
170 cm. high x 126 cm. wide x 67 cm. deep
And an adjustable stool (2)

Special notice

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Lot Essay

Hermanus ter Hart, an organ builder in Amsterdam in the second half of the 19th century is mainly known as builder of secretaire organs. Most probably he was educated in the workshop of Hermanus Knipscheer (1802-1874). Ter Hart's name is found in an organ (now in the Hervormde Kerk in De Wilp, Groningen) which was replaced and rebuilt by Knipscheer. Ter Hart's earliest know work is a private kept secretaire organ dated 1848 and his latest known work dates from 1879. It is likely that Ter Hart and Knipscheer used the same cabinet maker and therefor their work is difficult to hold apart. Generally stated Ter Hart's instruments have a fancier finish. Like Knipscheer, Ter Hart only signed a few house organs, and hardly dated any.
Closely related instruments are known at the following places:
Amsterdam, the Volksmuziekschool, signed H. ter Hart pianostemmer, Bloemstraat 195 Amsterdam;
Enkhuizen, Oud-Katholieke Kerk, unsigned;
Enkhuizen, Buitenmuseum, signed and dated H. Knipscheer 1853.

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