Harpsichord by Hemsch, H

A prominent example is the double-manual harpsichord dated probably 1736, housed in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Constructed primarily of poplar with lavish painted decorations in brown and gold, it measures 238 cm in length and features keyboards spanning FF to e'''. The instrument bears the signature "HENRY HEMSCH" around the central rose and an altered inscription "17[?]6" on the soundboard, confirming its authorship despite the date modification predating its acquisition by the museum. Its provenance traces to an unidentified European dealer who sold it around 1887–1888 to American collector Edward F. Searles; it passed through inheritance to B. Allen Rowland before being gifted to the MFA in 1981, reflecting a typical path for such artifacts from European nobility to 19th-century American collections. This piece has undergone multiple 20th-century restorations to ensure playability, including adjustments to maintain its original voicing and action

Photo Credit: Daderot Wikicommons