Harmonium

Harmonium. A 19th C. harmonium in a rosewood case, attributed to H. Christophe and Etienne, c.1860's, with turned and reeded baluster supports in the lower part. The front and sides are decorated at lock-rail level with two lengths of ruffled bead and spindle striation, used also in deeper form to edge the lid; under each end of the projecting keyboard assembly a thin, plain ebonised ‘capital’ and below it, stained to match the casework, a baluster, between the collars of which are two turned bulbs, the lower short and plain, the upper longer and reeded; the plinths are returned into the skirting at the bottom of the front panel and set on the base-board to which are hinged the two (re-carpeted) treadles (the cords used to replace their original webbing straps now broken); the player’s feet accommodated by a relief cut with a double concavity at eachend (now damaged) and two convexities meeting to form a point in the middle; the lid (its top surface now abraded) hinged centrally in its depth, the keyboard fall folding down onto its front flap, the lid stay mounted to the left of the rear flap; folding music desk (now insecure) mounted on the action cover, behind the board across which the drawstops are disposed 6 - 1 - 6; single kneelever below the keyboard (presumably for GRAND JEU but ineffective at present); a carrying handle of cast brass (once gilt) at each end of the case.