Carl Theodor Kuhn, 1890
New organ
www.orgelbau.ch/ope=100890
II/P/18
France, Gard
Petit Temple
The church dates from 1718 and was the former chapel of the Ursuline convent. During the French Revolution church property became «national property» and was sold. In 1793 a rich Protestant bought the chapel and later it was donated to the protestant community of Nîmes. In the chapel stood an organ with one manual and 9 stops which was built about 1750, probably by Jean Esprit Isnard.
In 1890 Theodor Kuhn built a tracker organ with 18 stops still employing cone chests. To this end he used the entire old organ case of Isnard (the upper part, the pipes previously being more or less located directly on the floor) and completed it in a marvellous manner in order to house the pipework and the tracker actions of his new enlarged organ in it. He knew how to connect the old elements with his own additions: he enlarged the front by adding two side flats and moved the side wings; furthermore he lifted the organ case by means of a projection ornated with rose festoons and three corbels. The whole is supported by a console decorated with acanthus leaves. The reconstruction as a swallow's nest is consistent with the organ case and represents a coherent ensemble that is pleasing to the eye.
The organ mechanism and pipework of 1890 have been considerably modified by making the organ baroque and installing an electric action. The console which was located behind the organ and accessible through an adjoining building is now placed below the organ.
Paul Cartier, 2007
Translation 2008: RS