Barrel Organs

Portable organ (barrel organ)

    Portable organ (barrel organ)

    Georgia, Tbilisi

    1950-2000's

    Organ maker Kitesov

    Wood, metal, brass, steel, leather; woodwork, lathing, marquetry, painting

    58 x 60 x 38 cm

    On case facade: "ОРГАННЫЙ МАСТЕР КИТЕСОВ. ТБИЛИСИ”. On the keyframe: “2440”

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    Barrel organ in wooden veneered case, on dark brown pedestal with green horizontal stripes, on ornately shaped feet with brass engraved onlays on the side ribs. Ornament in the form of water lilies is on the case facade. The images of cherubs with musical instruments and floral ornament in marquetry technique are on the removable panel. Four windows are on the panel. The painted images of dancers with ribbons over green background are in the vertical window. Two birds surrounded by flowers on green background are in the horizontal one. Fourteen metal piccolo pipes with black plugs and multicoloured glass pendants are in the open window. The inscription on yellow background is beneath the panel: “Органный мастер Китесов. Тбилиси” (Organ builder Kitesov. Tbilisi).
    Staples and a carrying strap are on the lateral sides with composed frame of green and brown colours. The pinned barrel lid with an aperture for the axis and six tips of register sliders with ribbons of different colors are on the right side. A crank in the form of an anchor that lowers the keyframe in the operating position is on the left side. Knife and bolt mechanism is beneath. Two lids with hook locks are on the top panel. A set of flue wooden pipes is behind the front lid. The pinned barrel for eight tunes and a keyframe with the number "2440", notes and twenty-six keys, according to the number of basic tunes are behind the back lid. With the keyframe raised, the pinned barrel can be set in one of eight positions according to the selected melody. An image of a girl with two lambs framed by floral ornament, in front of the fence, and a metal crank with wooden handle are on the rear side.
    As the crank is moved, the worm gear rotates the barrel; the crank gear drives the bellows that inject air into the wind chest with the valves. The pins and brackets on the pinned barrel raise the keys that open the valves of the respective pipes; the air from the wind chest enters the pipes and makes them sound. 
    Music media: pinned wooden barrel.

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    Инв.441/ММП