Antunes (harpsichord makers)

The Antunes family were Portuguese harpsichord- and early piano builders in the 18th and 19th centuries. 
Known builders of the family.
Julião was the father of Joaquim José; he was a maker of string instruments for the royal chapel in Lisbon
Surviving instruments.
There are four Antunes instruments still in existence. Two single manual harpsichords with disposition 8' 8' are signed by Joaquin José: one dated 1758, now in the Museu da Música, Lisbon and one dated 1785, that was in the Finchcocks collection, Goudhurst, Kent until 2016. Their other existing instruments are signed only 'Antunes', probably because they were made by Manuel and Joaquin José working together. These are a grand piano, very similar to their harpsichords in design and construction with an action like that of Bartolomeo Cristofori, made in 1767, now in the National Music Museum, Vermillion, South Dakota and a harpsichord similar to the others made in 1789 in the Museu da Música, Lisbon.
Recordings on original instruments.
The existing instruments have been readily seized upon by harpsichordists as the ideal instruments upon which to play the music of Portuguese and Spanish baroque composers such as Carlos Seixas and Manuel Blasco de Nebra. These recordings use original Antunes instruments:
See also.
List of historical harpsichord makers