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Chickering harp
Alternate name:Chord zither
Alternate name:zither, chord, melody strings
Alternate name:Menzenhauer's guitar-zither
Alternate name:Fretless zither
Alternate name:Guitar zither
Maker: Oscar Schmidt
Maker: Oscar Schmidt Company
Date: 1909 ca.
Place Made:Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, North America
Model: Chickering Harp Zither No. 2, Special Hudson-Fulton model
Serial No: none
SignedSoundhole label: black paper rectangular label with single line gold circular border; within border in gold printed: OSCAR SCHMIDT / Manufacturer of / Chickering Harp / Patented May 29th, 1894 / D.G.N.P. No. 68664 / 87-101 Ferry Street, Jersey City, N. J.
MarkingsSoundboard decal: first curve of ribbon in red printed: SPECIAL; second curve of ribbon in black printed: HUDSON – FULTON; third curve of ribbon in black printed: MODEL
DescriptionStrings: 31 strings; 4 chords consisting of 4 strings each, 15 melody strings
Body:
Top: red-varnished maple; light gold decal pitch designation label with red and gold geometrical border; label shows chord spellings, string musical notations, string tunings, and string numbers
Back: black-painted birch
Sides: red-varnished maple
Soundhole: gold decal; gold and red geometrical pattern innermost border surrounded by scrolling foliage outer border; decal depicts two harps and two Mandolins flanking soundhole
Nut: 2 piece red-painted maple; portion of nut for chord strings perpendicular to strings; portion of nut for melody strings diagonal to strings; single piece steel wire saddle; 2 holes for wire music stand
Bridge: red painted hardwood with steel wire saddle; red-painted hardwood endpiece
Decoration: soundboard decal located underneath chord side of nut; 3-sailed ship at sea with Hungarian flag, ship image surrounded by single line gold border; gold ribbon underneath ship imag
Tuning Pins: 31 nickel-plated steel tuning pins
Table-top Rests: 3 dome-shaped brass rests on back (2 missing with removal holes)
Body:
Top: red-varnished maple; light gold decal pitch designation label with red and gold geometrical border; label shows chord spellings, string musical notations, string tunings, and string numbers
Back: black-painted birch
Sides: red-varnished maple
Soundhole: gold decal; gold and red geometrical pattern innermost border surrounded by scrolling foliage outer border; decal depicts two harps and two Mandolins flanking soundhole
Nut: 2 piece red-painted maple; portion of nut for chord strings perpendicular to strings; portion of nut for melody strings diagonal to strings; single piece steel wire saddle; 2 holes for wire music stand
Bridge: red painted hardwood with steel wire saddle; red-painted hardwood endpiece
Decoration: soundboard decal located underneath chord side of nut; 3-sailed ship at sea with Hungarian flag, ship image surrounded by single line gold border; gold ribbon underneath ship imag
Tuning Pins: 31 nickel-plated steel tuning pins
Table-top Rests: 3 dome-shaped brass rests on back (2 missing with removal holes)
DimensionsBody: 490 mm / 19.3 inches long, 310 mm / 12.2 inches wide
Highest melody string vibrating length: 180 mm / 7.1 inches
Lowest melody string vibrating length: 395 mm / 15.5 inches
Chord string vibrating length: 395 mm / 15.5 inches
Highest melody string vibrating length: 180 mm / 7.1 inches
Lowest melody string vibrating length: 395 mm / 15.5 inches
Chord string vibrating length: 395 mm / 15.5 inches
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Terms
Credit Line: Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Not on view
Object number: 03835