Orgelcollectie Ghysels | |
Location | Kallo, Beveren |
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Coordinates | 51°16′15.44″N4°17′57.455″E / 51.2709556°N 4.29929306°E |
Type | Musical instrument museum |
Collections | mechanical dance and fairground organs |
Curator | Museum Vleeshuis |
Owner | Flemish Community |
Website | example |
The Organ collection Ghysels is a museum collection of mechanical dance and fairground organs. Since 2010 it is exhibited at the Kijk- en Luisterdepot (Watch and Listen Depot) in Kallo in Beveren, Belgium. It was brought together by Jef Ghysels from Schaerbeek. [1] Great part of the organs operated before the First World War. [2]
The collection consists of four large historical organs and twelve smaller ones, a number of organ statues, books and documentation material. [1] The oldest organ is L'Hermione from Genoa that dates from 1895. The youngest piece is the Brusilia; commissioned by Ghysels it was built in 1976. The organs in the collection were operated at parties, dance events, year fairs, and on the streets. [2]
The collection was bought by the Flemish Community in 2007. [3] The first exhibition was held from October 2008 to March 2009 in the Art & History Museum in Brussels, where the ball room Continental Superstar was specially created. [2] [4]
In 2010 it was transferred to the Kijk en Luisterdepot (Watch and Listen Depot) in Kallo, near to Antwerp. Here the instruments are stored under acclimatised conditions at Katoen Natie. [1] Guided tours are given here in which is clarified the history of dance and fair culture at the beginning of the 20th century. [5]
In 2013 the collection was allocated to Museum Vleeshuis. [6] The collection still remains in Kallo until Vleeshuis has been renovated. [1]