Here we have a lovely, and strikingly well preserved lap organ, made in the 1830\'s or 1840\'s by Charles Austin of Concord, New Hampshire, signed \"C. Austin, Concord N. H.\"
This little instrument is in fine unrestored condition, retaining its original bellows in working order, and all of its whalebone keys in perfect condition. Everything about this organ works.
The original carrying and storage box is present, and is also in fine condition. The storage cabinet is made of pine, and retains its original red stain.
The instrument itself is made of rosewood veneer and curly maple solids, both of which exhibit an attractive grain. I have never seen an unrestored instrument of this type in such fine condition. Even the excellent example at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has had some repairs. The only flaw that I could find was the little veneer chip in one corner of the organ, which is shown very clearly in the photographic enlargement.
The lap organ or Seraphime was among the earliest instruments in wide-spread use in the United States, and its tones are yet evocative of the days of Jackson, Van Buren and Polk. These instruments are quite easy to lean to play, and were pretty well the standard accompaniment for American hymnody in the early Republic.
An exceptionally fine example of a scarce instrument
This charming early American instrument will be carefully packed and double boxed to insure it\'s safe arrival at your door step.