Clavichord 1763

This clavichord was made by Christian Kintzing, who lived from 1707 to 1804. Look closely, and you'll see that it's made primarily of wood: a case of carved and inlaid timber, and a painted lid. The keys themselves are probably made of bone or ivory for the white notes, and ebony for the black. These materials give the instrument a feeling of warmth and elegance, fitting for the music it was designed to play. But the way it was made also tells us a lot. A clavichord like this would have required the skills of many different artisans: the joiner who made the case, the keyboard maker, the painter who decorated the lid with a pastoral scene, and the metal worker who crafted the delicate brass strings. Each of these individuals would have been trained in their own specialized craft, reflecting a highly developed division of labor. So, while this instrument may seem like a simple object, it’s actually a complex product of its time, embodying both the artistry and the social relations of 18th-century society. We shouldn’t forget that an object like this embodies many different skilled traditions, all coming together.