Advanced Search 
Hammered dulcimer and one mallet
John Grey & Sons Ltd. (English, 19th century)
19th century
Object Place: London, England
Medium/Technique
Mahogany, maple
Dimensions
Length 82 cm, width 38 cm, height 7.4 cm (Length 32 5/16 in., width 14 15/16 in., height 2 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection
Accession Number17.1780a-b
CollectionsEurope, Musical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Chordophones
DescriptionTrapezoidal box, sides inlaid in bands. Sound-board varnished black; two sound-holes covered with red flannel. Twenty-one sets of quadruple strings attached on the right side to eight-four pegs. Two strings of each of these sets are made of one V-shpaed wire, the free ends being attached to the tuning pegs and the bottom of the V hooked to a small iron pin on the left side. There are two slotted strips of wood placed over the sound-board. The strip close to the tuning pins supports eleven small movable bridges with tongs fitting into the slot to provide clearance. The other strip supports ten similar bridges, its location being so selected as to divide the vibrating lengths of the string in the ratio of two to three (which gives the ratio of a fifth). A tuning key is exhibited with the instrument.
InscriptionsEngraved on circular ivory plaque on case: DULCETTA JOHN GREY & SONS LTD. LONDON
ProvenanceFrancis W. Galpin (1858-1945), Hatfield Regis, England; 1916, sold by Francis W. Galpin to William Lindsey (1858-1922), Boston, Massachusetts; 1916, gift of William Lindsey, in memory of his daughter, Leslie Lindsey Mason, to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 5, 1916)