Glass Harmonica with 24 glasses
Dublin Core
Title
Glass Harmonica with 24 glasses
Description
This set of glasses is found within a rectangular shaped case veneered with mahogany. The inside cover is veneered with stain wood. The top quarter of the case raises to reveal 24 blown glasses in a 6 by 4 layout. The glasses are blown to pitch indicated by the applied decal on the side of the cup. There are no lines indicating the proper level of water on the side of the bowl. Each glass is in the form of footless goblet and is set in a hole in the sounding board. The stand is a rather plain one with no ornate design or decoration added at a later date.
Date
c. 1830
Date Modified
11/13/19 12:41
Bibliographic Citation
Libin, Laurence. American Musical Instruments in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Museum, 1985.
Smith, Francis. Preceptor for the Grand Harmonicon. John D. Toy, 1831.
Wilson, Kenneth. Musical glasses. Antiques Magazine, May 1961.
Smith, Francis. Preceptor for the Grand Harmonicon. John D. Toy, 1831.
Wilson, Kenneth. Musical glasses. Antiques Magazine, May 1961.
Provenance
Unknown
Instrument Item Type Metadata
Place of Origin
Baltimore
Maker
Possibly Francis Hopkinson Smith
Dimensions
Length 90.5 cm; Width 53.5 cm; Height 21.5 cm; Height (with stand) 94.5 cm
Compass
Marked D# to D (two octaves).
Notes from Carl Parrish–the chair of the Music Department–note that the “actual” pitch is (high) C to (middle) D.
Notes from Carl Parrish–the chair of the Music Department–note that the “actual” pitch is (high) C to (middle) D.
Classification
Idiophone-Friction
Inscriptions
A small letter is delicately engraved in script where the stem joins the bowl. This letter matches the pitch indicated by the decal on the side of the glass. This letter is in gold in black, gold-ringed oval on each glass.
Condition
There is one missing glass (presumably a G). The glasses are in good condition with no visible cracks.
As a side note: In their current placement, the glasses may not be placed in the order intended by the creator.
As a side note: In their current placement, the glasses may not be placed in the order intended by the creator.
General Notes
In Darlington’s notes this set was indicated to have 28 musical glasses in a mahogany case without a stand.
Other names: Glasspiel (or glaspiel), Glassy-chord, Harmonicon, Harmonica, Armonica, Hydrodaktylopsychicharmonica.
A similar instrument by FHS is located at the Chrysler Museum of Art, along with a catalogue of miscellaneous musical glasses.
https://chrysler.emuseum.com/objects/1162/grand-harmonicon
https://chrysler.emuseum.com/objects/1162/grand-harmonicon/related/5/images?page=1
A similar instrument by FHS is located at the MFA in Boston, MA.
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/51508
A similar instrument by FHS is located at the MIM in Phoenix, AZ.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MIM_PHX_2011-04-26_0182_edited.jpg
A similar instrument by FHS is located at the MET in New York, NY.
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/503377
A similar instrument (presumably by FHS) is located at the Corning Museum.
https://www.cmog.org/artwork/glass-harmonica-25-glasses-wooden-case
Other names: Glasspiel (or glaspiel), Glassy-chord, Harmonicon, Harmonica, Armonica, Hydrodaktylopsychicharmonica.
A similar instrument by FHS is located at the Chrysler Museum of Art, along with a catalogue of miscellaneous musical glasses.
https://chrysler.emuseum.com/objects/1162/grand-harmonicon
https://chrysler.emuseum.com/objects/1162/grand-harmonicon/related/5/images?page=1
A similar instrument by FHS is located at the MFA in Boston, MA.
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/51508
A similar instrument by FHS is located at the MIM in Phoenix, AZ.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MIM_PHX_2011-04-26_0182_edited.jpg
A similar instrument by FHS is located at the MET in New York, NY.
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/503377
A similar instrument (presumably by FHS) is located at the Corning Museum.
https://www.cmog.org/artwork/glass-harmonica-25-glasses-wooden-case
Biography
Francis Hopkinson Smith (b. Baltimore, Md., 1797; d. Eastville, Va., 1872) patented his version of the “Grand Harmonicon” on April 7, 1825. During this time, he was a prominent musical glass maker who also wrote an instructional book on the instrument called, Preceptor for the Grand Harmonicon. He made most of his instruments between 1825 and 1833 (Kenneth, 1961).
From Libin (1985): “Smith’s Preceptor for the Grand Harmonicon, or Musical Glasses contains instructions for playing the glasses, a selection of sacred and secular tunes ,and an advertisement for instruments with sixteen or twenty-five glasses, sold with or without a mahogany case” (pg. 52). “Smith was called a “professor of music” in 1829, when he maintained a manufactory and warehouse on South Frederick Street. By 1833 he was a teller for the Bank of Maryland, and between 1835 and 1853 he was an agent for the Franklin Fire Insurance Company. By 1854 he had become merely a brickmaker and salesman, and his son F. H. Smith, Jr., faced with family’s financial hardship, gave up college to work as a clerk” (pg. 56).
The following is provided by the Chrysler Museum of Art: “Francis Hopkinson Smith (1792-1872), of Eastville, Northampton County, Virginia, patented his version of musical glass, which he called the "Glass Harmonicon" on April 7, 1785. Smith's glasses were blown to pitch. They are played by rubbing their rims with moistened fingers. Most, if not all, of Smith's Glass Harmonicons were manufactured in Baltimore where he later lived.”
From Libin (1985): “Smith’s Preceptor for the Grand Harmonicon, or Musical Glasses contains instructions for playing the glasses, a selection of sacred and secular tunes ,and an advertisement for instruments with sixteen or twenty-five glasses, sold with or without a mahogany case” (pg. 52). “Smith was called a “professor of music” in 1829, when he maintained a manufactory and warehouse on South Frederick Street. By 1833 he was a teller for the Bank of Maryland, and between 1835 and 1853 he was an agent for the Franklin Fire Insurance Company. By 1854 he had become merely a brickmaker and salesman, and his son F. H. Smith, Jr., faced with family’s financial hardship, gave up college to work as a clerk” (pg. 56).
The following is provided by the Chrysler Museum of Art: “Francis Hopkinson Smith (1792-1872), of Eastville, Northampton County, Virginia, patented his version of musical glass, which he called the "Glass Harmonicon" on April 7, 1785. Smith's glasses were blown to pitch. They are played by rubbing their rims with moistened fingers. Most, if not all, of Smith's Glass Harmonicons were manufactured in Baltimore where he later lived.”
Cataloger
MC, KH, JW
Collection
Darlington Collection
Instrument Materials
Mahogany case. Blown glass.
Instrument Location
Vassar Treasure Room
Restoration/Conservation
Unknown
Citation
“Glass Harmonica with 24 glasses,” Music Treasures, accessed November 7, 2026, https://musictreasures.vclibrary.vassarspaces.net/items/show/119.