Concertina
Production date
1873-1900
Country
Germany
State/Province
Saxony
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Object detail
Description
Portable reed organ consisting of two hexagonal casings (each containing a small button keyboard with numbered ivory/bone buttons) connected by bellows. Bellows covered in gold embossed fabric on the outside, and geometric red and black patterns on the inside of the folds. Leather hand-straps are attached to the hexagonal casings. Depression of the buttons operates a spring palette mechanism which allows the activation of the free reed set around the edges of the hexagon on the outward and inward movement of the bellows. Small metal grilles cover round holes in the casings. This concertina also possesses a right thumb button which allows movement of the bellows without the necessity of sounding a note.
Classification
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Wind concertina
Maker
Production date
1873-1900
Production place
Measurements
L200 x W185 x H165 mm
Media/Materials description
Reed, wood, leather, metal, textile
Signature/Marks
Handels-Fabrik- Marke \ Registered \ [swan emblem with indecipherable text on wing] \Trade Mark \ SEMPER SURSUM
History and use
Invented in the early 19th century, the concertina's popularity waned in the early 20th century in the wake of the accordion. Its most prominent historical and contempory use is in the performance of various Western folk music.
This is a German or Anglo concertina, distinguished by the fact that it sounds different degrees of the diatonic scale on the extension and compression of the bellows. (The English type has a fuller range, sounding the same note of the chromatic scale on both the extension and compression of the bellows).
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
This is a German or Anglo concertina, distinguished by the fact that it sounds different degrees of the diatonic scale on the extension and compression of the bellows. (The English type has a fuller range, sounding the same note of the chromatic scale on both the extension and compression of the bellows).
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
Registration number
H8179
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