Castanets Collection

Various musical instruments

Wonders of the cinema organ by G. H. Davis
Noises played for films: wonders of the cinema organ. Thunder, shots and tom-toms controlled by an organist: a film-theatre organ that creates sound effects. Date: 1929

Spanish Flamenco Dancers
Two Flamenco dancers dancing with castanets

Woman in costume as a gypsy girl dancing with castanets, 1880s (lithograph)
5893510 Woman in costume as a gypsy girl dancing with castanets, 1880s (lithograph); (add.info.: Woman in costume as a gypsy girl (zingara) dancing with castanets. Costume designed by M. Robin

Series of pictures of musical instruments, tambourine and castanets from Spain, Liebig picture
7277917 Series of pictures of musical instruments, tambourine and castanets from Spain, Liebig picture; Private Collection; (add.info.: Series of pictures of musical instruments)

Ancient Greek terracotta dancing doll holding castanets (terracotta)
3330433 Ancient Greek terracotta dancing doll holding castanets (terracotta); (add.info.: Ancient Greek terracotta dancing doll holding castanets. Dated 4th Century BC.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Tarantella Dancer with Castanets (colour litho)
8640758 Tarantella Dancer with Castanets (colour litho) by Fitzgerald, Augustine (c.1861-1930); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tarantella Dancer with Castanets)

Page from Gamage's General Catalogue (96th edition), c.1927 (litho)
8669873 Page from Gamage's General Catalogue (96th edition), c.1927 (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Isita, 1895. Creator: Feure, Georges de (1868-1928)
Isita, 1895. Private Collection

Recueil des modes de la cour de France, Le Basque, between c1678 and c1693. Creator: Nicolas Bonnart
Recueil des modes de la cour de France, Le Basque, between c1678 and c1693

Performers at the Villa of Belgatchia, Calcutta, from a sketch by one of our special artists, 1876. Creator: Unknown
Performers at the Villa of Belgatchia, Calcutta, from a sketch by one of our special artists, 1876. Among the feats...was the ingenious musician, Baboo Rally Prosonno Bannerjee

Dancing Faun, 1781. Creator: Paolo Spinazzi
Dancing Faun, 1781

Vintage 1930s Travel Poster - Flamenco Dancers - Spain

Man and woman in Mexican national costumes for a masquerade ball. Handcoloured lithograph by Alexandre Lacauchie published by Hautecoeur Freres, Paris, 1880s

Gnawa musicians - ethnic group inhabiting Morocco and Algeria in the Maghreb. Gnawa music is characterized by instrumentation

Bobalicon (Silly Idiot), 1864 (etching, aquatint & drypoint)
3959779 Bobalicon (Silly Idiot), 1864 (etching, aquatint & drypoint) by Goya y Lucientes, Francisco Jose de (1746-1828); 24.3x34.5 cm; Manchester Art Gallery

Fandango, 1881 (w/c)
1067520 Fandango, 1881 (w/c) by Onderdonk, Robert Jenkins (1852-1917); 18.4x26.3 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, USA; (add.info.: By Robert Jenkins Onderdonk (1852-1917)); gift of Pauline A. Pinckney

Carmencita, 1890 (oil on canvas)
7327187 Carmencita, 1890 (oil on canvas) by Chase, William Merritt (1849-1916); 177.5 x 103.8 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Flamenco dancers, painting by Gonzalo Bilbao y Martinez c. 1915
AIS5388629 Flamenco dancers, painting by Gonzalo Bilbao y Martinez c.1915 by Bilbao Martinez, Gonzalo (1860-1938); Museo de Bellas Artes, Bilbao, Spain; (add.info.: A stop on the road)

Gipsy Dance;An Autumn Tour in Andalusia, 1875. Creator: Gustave Doré
Gipsy Dance; An Autumn Tour in Andalusia, 1875. [Spanish dancer with castanets, old woman playing the tambourine]. From, Illustrated Travels by H.W. Bates

Simpleton, plate 4 of Proverbs, 1819-23, pub. 1864 (etching)
IND82104 Simpleton, plate 4 of Proverbs, 1819-23, pub. 1864 (etching) by Goya y Lucientes, Francisco Jose de (1746-1828); 24.7x35.9 cm; Private Collection; Index Fototeca

The Exotic Dancer, 1915 (oil on canvas)
492459 The Exotic Dancer, 1915 (oil on canvas) by Bernard, Emile (1868-1941); 128.6x80.7 cm; Private Collection; Photo © Christies Images

Dancer of Madrid, Spain, 19th century. In a dress for the fandango or bolero with short petticoat, tight corset
FLO4658100 Dancer of Madrid, Spain, 19th century. In a dress for the fandango or bolero with short petticoat, tight corset, and hair tied up in ribbons

Female dancer of Seville, Spain, 19th century. She dances a fandango or bolero with her hair tied up in ribbons
FLO4658127 Female dancer of Seville, Spain, 19th century. She dances a fandango or bolero with her hair tied up in ribbons, a short bolero jacket, calf-length skirt, and castanets

Carmen, 1927 (colour woodblock print)
CHT171800 Carmen, 1927 (colour woodblock print) by Hermann, Paul (1864-1940); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; (add.info)

At the Torrijos Pilgrimage - Cabral Aguado-Bejarano, Manuel (1827-1891) - 1883 - Oil on canvas - 69x99 - Museo Carmen
FIA5398786 At the Torrijos Pilgrimage - Cabral Aguado-Bejarano, Manuel (1827-1891) - 1883 - Oil on canvas - 69x99 - Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga by Cabral y Aguado Bejarano

A Bolero Dancer - Cabral Bejarano, Antonio (1788-1861) - 1842 - Oil on canvas - 53x42 - Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga
FIA5398785 A Bolero Dancer - Cabral Bejarano, Antonio (1788-1861) - 1842 - Oil on canvas - 53x42 - Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga by Bejarano, Antonio Cabral (1788-1861); Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga

Portrait de Marie Petipa (1857-1930) ballerine russe - Lithographie de Nikolai Gustavovich Legat (1869-1937)
FIA5384186 Portrait de Marie Petipa (1857-1930) ballerine russe - Lithographie de Nikolai Gustavovich Legat (1869-1937), extraite de Ballet russe en caricatures

Danseuse avec catagnettes - Peinture d un maitre iranien, huile sur toile (158x90 cm)
FIA5383306 Danseuse avec catagnettes - Peinture d un maitre iranien, huile sur toile (158x90 cm), debut 19eme siecle - Dancing Girl with Castanets, Oil on canvas by an Iranian master

Flamenco - Canals, Ricard (1876-1931) - Oil on canvas - 61, 5x74, 5 - Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga
FIA5398799 Flamenco - Canals, Ricard (1876-1931) - Oil on canvas - 61, 5x74, 5 - Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga by Canals y Llambi, Ricardo (1876-1931); Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga

Statue of dancing satyr with castanets, 2nd century. Pentilic marble
7225048 Statue of dancing satyr with castanets, 2nd century. Pentilic marble. by Roman, (2nd century AD); Villa Borghese, Rome, Italy; (add.info.: Statue of dancing satyr with castanets)

Spanish Dancers (oil on parchment on cradled panel)
621375 Spanish Dancers (oil on parchment on cradled panel) by Manet, Edouard (1832-83); Private Collection; (add.info.: Danseurs Espagnols); Photo eChristies Images; French, out of copyright

Muslim women entertaining themelves in their private quarters. Woman smoking hookah pipes, spinning yarn, embroidering, etc. Appartement d une dame Mahometane avec le tandour

Woman in costume as a gypsy girl dancing with castanets
Woman in costume as a gypsy girl (zingara) dancing with castanets. Costume designed by M. Robin. Handcoloured lithograph published by Martinet, Paris, 1880s

A Bare living by Wilton Williams
A cabaret dancer wearing very little entertains diners at a smart restaurant. Date: 1928

Escorado, 1922 (oil on canvas)
AGR213789 Escorado, 1922 (oil on canvas) by Wygrzywalski, Feliks Michal (1875-1944); 55.5x76 cm; Private Collection; Agra Art, Warsaw, Poland; Polish, out of copyright

Poster advertising la Belle Otero at the Folies-Bergere, 1894 (colour litho)
CHT179660 Poster advertising la Belle Otero at the Folies-Bergere, 1894 (colour litho) by Bataille, G. (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: La Belle Otero en spectacle aux Folies Bergere)

Plate II: Ancient and modern percussion instruments from the Encyclopedia of Denis
STC84215 Plate II: Ancient and modern percussion instruments from the Encyclopedia of Denis Diderot (1713-84) and Jean le Rond d Alembert (1717-83), 1751-72 (engraving) by Benard

Ancient musical instruments including bellows
Foot instrument used by a faun in a Florentine gallery 1, bellows from a relief in the Pallavicini Gardens 2, bagpipe from an ancient basrelief 3, tambourine, castanets and tibia from Greek vases 4

Female dancer of Seville, Spain, 19th century. She dances a fandango or bolero with her hair tied up in ribbons, a short bolero jacket, calf-length skirt, and castanets

Dancer of Madrid, Spain, 19th century. In a dress for the fandango or bolero with short petticoat, tight corset, and hair tied up in ribbons

Mandingo dancers dancing a cullunjee
Mandingo women dancing a cullunjee. They wear tall feather hats, painted faces, and grass skirts, and beat time with drums and wooden castanets

The Dance of the Tarantella, from Italian Scenery, representing the Manners
3258429 The Dance of the Tarantella, from Italian Scenery, representing the Manners, Customs and Amusements of the different States of Italy, pub. 1806 (hand coloured engraving) by Lerberghi, P

Many Folk Misfitz - Spain - Spanish Boy. early 20th century

Page from G Butlers Illustrated Catalogue of Musical Instruments (engraving)
2776777 Page from G Butlers Illustrated Catalogue of Musical Instruments (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Seville (oil on canvas)
NUL166678 Seville (oil on canvas) by Sorolla y Bastida, Joaquin (1863-1923); Hispanic Society of America, New York, USA; Spanish, out of copyright

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"Captivating Rhythms: Exploring the Enchanting World of Castanets" From the lively beats accompanying Spanish flamenco dancers to the mesmerizing melodies of various musical instruments, they have woven their way into diverse cultures and artistic expressions. These small percussion instruments, typically made from wood or fiberglass, hold a rich history that transcends borders. In the realm of music, castanets add a distinctive flair to traditional Spanish flamenco performances. As skilled dancers stomp their feet and twirl in vibrant dresses, the rhythmic clacking of these tiny marvels fills the air with an irresistible energy. Beyond flamenco's passionate embrace, they have found their place in other musical genres as well. The wonders of cinema organs by G. H. Davis come alive as nimble fingers dance across keyboards while simultaneously manipulating these captivating click-clackers. Their percussive charm adds depth and character to cinematic scores that transport audiences into new realms. Artists throughout history have also been captivated by castanets' allure. In Bobalicon (Silly Idiot), an etching from 1864, we witness a comical scene where mischief unfolds amidst playful rhythms. Meanwhile, man and woman adorned in Mexican national costumes strike up a lively tune accompanied by these delightful instruments. Traveling further eastward brings us to Morocco and Algeria where Gnawa musicians enchant listeners with hypnotic melodies produced by their castanet-like qraqeb cymbals. Their soul-stirring performances evoke ancient traditions passed down through generations. The visual arts too pay homage to this instrument's significance. Fandango captures its essence through watercolors painted in 1881; while Carmencita immortalizes it on canvas in 1890 - both celebrating its role within Spanish culture's vibrant tapestry. Gonzalo Bilbao y Martinez's painting from around 1915 showcases flamenco dancers frozen mid-motion, their castanets poised to create a symphony of sound.