Glassichord 1798 - 1810

This is a photograph of a Glassichord by F. J. Lendel, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It depicts a keyboard instrument that may seem modern, but harbors echoes of ancient harmonies. Consider the keyboard itself, a series of black and white keys. This arrangement is strikingly similar to a ladder, a universal symbol representing ascent and descent. We see this echoed in countless myths, from Jacob's ladder to the Tower of Babel, each symbolizing humanity's yearning for transcendence. Yet, this ladder of notes produces music, an art form revered for its capacity to induce catharsis—a release of pent-up emotion. Notice how the instrument stands alone on a pedestal. The pedestal elevates the ordinary, transforming a mere object into an icon, not unlike an altar. The Glassichord, therefore, becomes more than a musical device; it is an instrument of the soul, capable of both elevating and purging the listener. Music, like the ladder and pedestal, reminds us of the cyclical dance between the earthly and the divine, forever resurfacing in new forms.