Collection of Musical Instruments Belonging to the Musician and Collector Johan Coenradus Boers, Frederik Christiaan Filip Gräfe, 1863 - c. 1905
Johan Coenradus Boers (1812-1896) was a musician, conductor, composer, music historian, and collector. Although his compositions are now largely forgotten, his memory lives on thanks to his collection of musical instruments. In 1899 the Rijksmuseum purchased around 130 old wind and stringed instruments, and some non-western instruments, from his descendants. Before then (a part of) the collection had been photographed by Gräfe, Boers’ fellow Delft townsman.