Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

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RUCKERS RUCKERS 181
Ruckers. Time seemed to have no effect with who sacrificed Ruckers' work, to display the
the Ruckers instruments. They were decorated paintings by Boucher and Le Prince that had'
with costly paintings in this country and France, adorned it, on a new grand piano made for the
when a hundred years old and more, New keys purpose by Zeitter. This maker showed respect
and new jacks replaced the old ones ; so long as for his predecessor by preserving thesound-board,
the sound -board stood lasted the silvery sweet which he converted '
into a music-box, the inscription
Joannes Ruckers me ' fecit Antverpiae
tone. It has done so in some instances until
now, but modern conditions of life seem to be being transferred to the back. This box ultimately
became Rimbault's ; the piano was sold
inimical to the old wood ; it will be difficult, if
not impossible, to preserve any of these old instruments
much longer. As a work of piety we In the same house (Carlton House Terrace), and
at Coding's sale by Christie & Manson in 1857.
have catalogued all that we have seen or can sold by auction at the sametime for £290, was an
hear of, appending the list to this notice. Andries Ruckers harpsichord that had also been
In John Broadwood's books, 1772-73, are made into a pianoforte by Zeitter. In this instrument
the original belly, dated 1628, was pre-
several entries concerning the hiring of Ruker,
Rooker, and Rouker harpsichords to his customers
; to the Duchess of Richmond, Lady of this maker. The present compass of the piano
served. The sound-hole contained the rose (No. 6)
Pembroke, Lady Catherine Murray, etc. etc. is five octaves F—F. Inside the top is a landscape
In 1 790 Lord Camden bought a, 'double Ruker ' with figures, and outside, figures with musical
in 1792 Mr. Williams bought another, the price instruments on a gold ground. Round the case
charged for each being twenty-five guineas. on gold are dogs and birds, a serpent and birds,
These entries corroborate the statement of James etc. All this decoration is 1 8th-century work.
Broadwood(