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 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.