Shudi & Broadwood 1785

This splendid instrument is an example of a fully-developed English harpsichord by Shudi and Broadwood, made in 1785.

Burkhardt Tschudi was born in Schwanden, Switzerland, in 1702, and came to London in 1718, and soon after that  began work with Hermann Tabel, following in the Ruckers tradition .  By 1729 at least, Tabel had retired, and Burkat Shudi as he now called himself had set up his own business; his first known harpsichord bears that date.  In 1742, he moved to the famous address in Great Pulteny Street, Golden Square, and in 1761 the young Scottish cabinet maker John Broadwood came to work for him.  In 1769, John Broadwood married Shudi's daughter Barbara, and later in the same year he was made partner in the firm.  Burkat Shudi died in 1773, and the business was in his safe hands from then onwards, retaining the name 'Burkat Shudi et Johannes Broadwood' for harpsichords until the last harpsichord made by thge firm in 1793.  

This 1785 instrument features the 'Venetian Swell', patented by Shudi in 1769.

 

 

 

 

 

The stop knobs and levers at the right control the two 8' stops.

 

 

 

The stop levers at the left control the lute, 4', and buff.  By convention, the knobs are moved towards the centre to put the stop 'on'.

 

 

 

 

The knob on the left-hand cheek engages the machine stop.  When the pedal is up, both 8' registers play from the lower manual.  When the pedal is depressed, the front eight is withdrawn, and the buff acts on the back 8'.

 

 

 

The Venetian Swell viewed from the tail.

This harpsichord is N° 1015, listed in Boalch Mould Online as  BMO 1815

Former owners include Sir Anthony Burne-Jones, in 1954 it was on long term loan to Christopher Wood. 

 

The estimate for this magnificent instrument  is £40,000 - £60,000.

 

Images by courtesy of Graham Walker.

 

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© David Hackett