{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O58944"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O58944/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CR9613/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CR9613/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CR9613","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O58944/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O58944","accessionNumber":"W.38-1917","objectType":"Keyed monochord","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The keyed-monochord (literally 'one string') is fitted with one large string (often of horse-hair), and played partly with key-operated blades, rather like a clavichord, and partly with a bow. Its oval body rests on a stand. J. Pousette of France invented the keyed monochord (or <i>monochorde à clavier</i>) in 1883 and intended it for church music.","physicalDescription":"\"The instrument, which is mounted on a central stand, consists of a narrow box of pine containing a key action, fixed by iron brackets to a longitudinal central member. On the right is an oval soundbox of pine, with two C-shaped soundholes with central nicks, placed back to back, and with a knob-like peg for tuning the single string, which passes over a bridge and runs through the keybox. The string is sounded with a separate bow. On the front of the keybox is a three-octave keyboard with twenty-two ivory natural keys and fifteen sharps. The keys actuate brass levers which strick and stop the string in the manner of the keys of a clavichord'. - Anthony Baines,<i> Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments</i> (London, 1998), pp. 27 - 28.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"Made","id":"x28690"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pine","id":"AAT12620"},{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"},{"text":"ebony","id":"AAT12055"},{"text":"iron","id":"AAT11002"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"planing","id":"AAT53863"},{"text":"joining","id":"AAT137062"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved and planed pine body and stand; pine keyboard; ivory-covered naturals; ebony sharps.","categories":[{"text":"Musical instruments","id":"THES48919"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2009CR9613"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES379865"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Keyed monochord","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"Made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"about 1890","earliest":"1890-01-01","latest":"1890-12-31"},"association":{"text":"Made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given to the Museum by Henry Saint-George, Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"140","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"overall.","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measurements taken from Anthony Baines,<i> Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments</i> (London, 1998), pp. 27-28.","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This instrument was given to the museum by Henry Saint-George, in 1917.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Keyed monochord, pine sound-box, French, about 1890.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), pp. 27 - 28."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"KEYED MONOCHORD\r\nFrench; about 1886\r\nPine soundboard and ivory naturals. The instrument has a range of three octaves. \r\n \r\nNon-Keyboard Catalogue No.: 6/7 \r\n  \r\nThe Monocorde Clavier was invented by J. Pousset in 1883 and first built in 1886, being intended for churches. The string, usually of horse hair is sounded by a bow and brass tangents that were activated by the keys, like a clavichord. \r\n \r\nW.38-1917 \r\n\r\nBequeathed by Henry Saint-George, Esq.","date":{"text":"pre September 2000","earliest":null,"latest":"2000-08-31"}}],"partNumbers":["W.38-1917"],"accessionNumberNum":"38","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1917,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-06","recordCreationDate":"2001-05-16","availableToBook":true}}