Name of Instrument: portative organ

Maker / Brand:

Stearns Catalog #: 1350

Country of Origin: Italy

Region of Origin: Europe

Instrument Category: Aerophone

Date of Fabrication:

Location: CHO Z 2

Description: This most interesting assemblage of spare parts is trying to pass itself off as a late gothic portative organ. While the many errors in materials use and form are laughable for experts, this instrument does embody highly unusual organ building techniques in addition to demonstrating the desperation of collectors in locating an original example. Stearns does posses pieces of what appears to be a slightly larger 16th Century positif organ–a relative in the same organ family (Stearns #1347)–and the only known example of this genre from this time.

Research: Stearns Staff