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STIFTSKIRCHE ST. GOAR - info

Hans Meijer

The Background and Youth of Susanna Maria Knöpffel - Sankt Goar

To understand the world in which Susanna Maria Knöpfel grew up in 1706, we must look at the life and work of her father: Johann Konrad Knöpfel (1662–ca. 1720). As the son of a Protestant pastor, Johann Konrad was blessed with a sharp mind and a solid social network. In 1680, he enrolled at the University of Marburg, the intellectual and theological heart of Protestant Hesse. Armed with this academic background, he settled in the strategic Rhine town of Sankt Goar. Here, he built an impressive career that would make him one of the most influential citizens of the region.

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Conrad Knöpfels, Metropolitani zu Milsungen 1651

A Protestant Key Figure Under Catholic Rulers

The political and religious situation in which Johann Konrad had to operate was highly complex. Sankt Goar and the massive Rheinfels Castle towering above it were historically Protestant territories. However, due to an inheritance within the princely house of Hesse, actual power fell into the hands of a strictly Catholic branch in 1693: the House of Hesse-Wanfried. First under Landgrave Charles (1693–1711) and from 1711 under his devout son Landgrave William II, Catholic rulers governed an almost entirely Protestant population.
Although this seemed like a recipe for religious warfare on paper, the practical reality was surprisingly pragmatic. Thanks to old treaties (such as the
Regensburger Rezeß), the rights and properties of the Protestants were legally protected. The Catholic landgraves were allowed to practice their faith in the castle chapel on the fortress and in a new church built outside the town walls, but they had to leave the Protestant citizens in peace. To keep the region stable and secure tax revenues, the Catholic landgraves desperately needed reliable Protestant administrators who held the trust of the local people. Johann Konrad Knöpfel was the perfect man at the perfect place.


The Dual Role: Church Finances and Military Logistics

Johann Konrad held a crucial dual role in Sankt Goar. First, he was the Stift-Kellner (administrative manager/cellarer) of the Protestant Stiftskirche. In this influential position, he managed the administration, the extensive lands, and the tax revenues of the Protestant church chapter. The fact that a Catholic landgrave like William II left the control of this vital Protestant financial stream entirely to Knöpfel proves how deeply his integrity and business expertise were respected.
His second function carried even greater responsibility: Johann Konrad was also the
Proviant-Commissair (provisions commissioner) of Rheinfels Castle. At the time, Rheinfels was one of the mightiest and most important military fortresses along the Rhine, built to withstand the constant threat of French invasions. As provisions commissioner, Knöpfel was responsible for the massive logistical operation inside the fort. He ensured that military supplies—from grain, meat, and beer to ammunition and gunpowder—were always sufficient to withstand a siege of several months. In an era of constant threat of war, this was an absolute position of trust. Landgrave William II knew that the survival of his strategic castle literally depended on the logistical precision of his Protestant commissioner.

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KNOPPFFEL
Hessisches Landesarchiv complete files

🇩🇪
Consistorial-Sachen Nr. 148 C.
Original-Instruktion für den Stiftskellner Knöpfel zu St. Goar (1701–1702).

1701–02. (Archiefstempel/nota: Staatsarchiv Marburg, Best. 40a Rubr. 4 Nr. 5143)
🇬🇧
Consistory Affairs No. 148 C.
Original instructions for the Church Foundation Cellarer (Stiftskellner) Knöpfel at St. Goar (1701–1702).


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We, by the Grace of God, Charles, Landgrave of Hesse, Prince of Hersfeld, Count of Katzenelnbogen, Diez, Ziegenhain, Nidda, and Schaumburg, hereby make known:
By princely decree, our appointed Consistory officers (Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Councillors) have accepted and appointed Johann Conrad Knöpfel to our Foundation at St. Goar. By virtue of this document, we grant him the office of Foundation Cellarer (Stiftskellner). He shall remain faithful, loyal, and obedient to the most serene Prince and Lord Charles.


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He must prevent any harm to the Prince, report potential risks, and dutifully collect, register, and account for all revenue of the foundation (whether in money, wine, grain, or other dues) in a timely manner. He is required to submit an annual account of the foundation's finances.



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Furthermore, he must maintain the foundation's buildings in good condition and promptly report and repair any defects or damages. He shall ensure that no rights or revenues of the foundation are lost or abused. He has pledged this through a personal oath and a written bond (Reversbrief).


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In return for his service, he shall receive the following annual compensation from the foundation’s revenues:

  • Monetary: 5 Reichstalers

  • Grain: 6 malters of corn, 3 malters of barley, 1 sommer of peas

  • In-kind: Wine (equal to the schoolmaster's allowance), bread for personal use, wax, coal, and timber allowances.

These revenues are to be shared with the Superintendent and Inspectors according to custom.
Given at Kassel, January 1, 1701, under the official seal of the Consistory.


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Addendum (Rescript of July 31, 1702):
The Landgrave decrees that Johann Conrad Knöpfel shall receive the exact same salary as his predecessor, Johann Peter Treiber. In addition, pursuant to earlier rescripts (from 1678 and 1679), he is granted additional provisions: 3 sechster-malters of corn, 3 malters of wheat (replacing prebendal wine), and monetary allowances for poultry (chickens/geese) and shipping tolls amounting to 20 Reichstalers and 3 Albus.


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To him, as the current Foundation Cellarer (Stiftskellner), the aforementioned 3 sechster-malters of corn and 3 malters of barley (in lieu of the prebendal wine), together with one fuder of corn (or its monetary equivalent), as well as the 20 Reichstalers for the shipping toll, are to be granted, paid out, and approved retroactively from January of the preceding year 1701.
In witness whereof, this document has been issued under the seal of the Princely Consistory.
Given at Kassel, July 4, 1702.



Stability in a Respected Family

While Johann Konrad navigated daily between the interests of the Protestant citizenry down in the town and the Catholic court up at the castle, he built his own family life. On April 29, 1695, he married Regina Magdalena Dirx in the Stiftskirche (a daughter from a solid, local-regional Protestant background).
In this wealthy, highly educated, and well-respected family of the Stift-Kellner, their daughter Susanna Maria Knöpfel was baptized on September 11, 1706. She grew up in a world where culture, religious tolerance, administrative responsibility, and music went hand in hand. It was this specific, intellectual Protestant upbringing in the shadow of Rheinfels Castle that laid the foundation for her later life and her marriage in 1733 to the gifted pastor's son and harpsichord maker Johann Daniel Dulcken.





The son of Conrad Knöpfel, born in Wolfershausen in 1662 and enrolled at the University of Marburg in 1680, became quartermaster at the Hessian fortress of Rheinfels near St. Goar.
Conrad Knöpfel married Regina Magdalena Dirx on 29 April 1695. Conrad Knöpfel died before 1721.

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Den 7. April. sind zum ersten mal proclamirt worden, Herr Jo- han Conrad Knöpfel, Proviant=Meister, Herrn Conrad Knöpfels, Metropolitani zu Milsungen, ehelicher Sohn; und Jgfr. Regina Magdalena, Herrn Dieterich Diepers, Rath= gängers eheleibliche Tochter. Den 29. April. copulati. Den 16. Jun. sind zum ersten mal proclamirt.

On April 7th, the banns were published for the first time for: Mr. Johan Conrad Knöpfel, proviant master (commissary of supplies), legitimate son of Mr. Conrad Knöpfel, metropolitan (chief pastor/superintendent) in Melsungen; and maiden Regina Magdalena, legitimate daughter of Mr. Dieterich Dieper, town councillor. On April 29th, they were married.




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Taufeintrag Susanna Maria Knöpfel - transcriptie Dr. Johannes Burkardt
Complete

Den 11 t[en] [Novem]bris wurde Don[n]erstag Nachmittags zwisch[en] 12 u[nd] 1 Uhren
nach gehaltener
Beth=Stunde in öffentl[icher] Versam[m]lung getaufft Susanna Maria,
H[errn] Johann Conrad Knöpffels, Proviant-Com[m]issarii u[nd] Stiffts=
Kellners allhier Töchterlein. Gevattern waren Herr Oswald
Wollff, Nachgänger am hiesigen Hoch=Fürstl[ichen] Gesam[m]t-Rhein=
Zoll, u[nd] Fr[au] Maria Barbara, H[errn] Samuel Kellers, Stadt=
Lieutenants allhier ehel[iche] Hauß-Frau, wie auch H[errn] Pfarrers Geissel
Fr[au] Eheliebste von Wollroda
des H[errn] Vatters Schwester.*
* Die letzten 12 Wörter mit blasserer Tinte später nachgetragen.



Historical Reconstruction: The Living Environment and Social Transition of Susanna Knöpffel




Introduction

The youth of Susanna Knöpffel unfolded within the administrative and religious core of Sankt Goar. Her father, Johann Conrad Knöpffel, held two influential government posts:
Stift-Kellner (chief administrator) of the chapter and Proviant-Commissair at the Rheinfels Castle. Consequently, the family belonged to the local governing elite.


Housing and the Stiftskellerei

As chief administrator, her father was responsible for tax collection, lease revenues, and the church's real estate. The official residence and office (the
Stiftskellerei) were located directly within the complex. Historical maps indicate that the family resided in the buildings directly adjacent to the church, designated as the Clofter (Cloister) or Aptey (Abbey). This was not a quiet private sphere, but rather a functional administrative hub. There was a constant influx of farmers, merchants, and officials arriving to deliver tithes in kind, such as wine and grain.


Logistics and Infrastructure Surrounding the Home

The daily routine of the family was logistically shaped by the surrounding infrastructure. To the north, the
Obere-Straße served as the town's primary thoroughfare for transport and travelers. The Heiligen Gasse on the western side bordered the cloister complex, providing a direct and quieter route toward the market and the Rathhauss (Town Hall) in the lower town. The Wacher (the town brook) ran directly alongside the abbey, serving the complex's water supply and drainage needs.


Religious and Social Obligations

The
Grose Kirch. (the Protestant Evangelische Stiftskirche) stood at the center of the family's public life. Due to her father's high social standing, the family held a permanent, respected place within the church nave. They attended all official Protestant services and ceremonies. This weekly attendance defined Susanna's social interactions within the upper bourgeoisie of Sankt Goar.


The Relationship with Rheinfels Castle

Although the family's administrative base was located in the lower town, there was a direct functional link to the military leadership. The
Alte Burg and the higher-situated fortress of Rheinfels were the sites where her father managed military provisions. This meant the Knöpffel family maintained close ties with both the ecclesiastical and military authorities of the Landgraviate of Hessen-Kassel. Within this strictly organized administrative network, Susanna spent her formative years.


Socio-Political Shifts and the Transition Following the Death of Johann Conrad Knöpffel

The domestic circumstances underwent a profound transformation following the death of Johann Conrad Knöpffel prior to 1721. His passing not only left a personal void but most likely resulted in the loss of the family's official residence within the administrative cloister complex.
This domestic upheaval coincided with broader geopolitical and religious tensions within the region. Although Sankt Goar was traditionally a Protestant-Reformed stronghold, the local administration faced mounting pressure due to the ascension of Catholic authority within the House of Hessen-Rheinfels-Rotenburg. This centralizing and Counter-Reformation influence culminated in sweeping administrative reorganizations that persisted until 1731. The loss of their patriarchal protector, combined with this encroaching Catholic oversight regarding the management of ecclesiastical properties, drastically altered the social standing of the local Protestant elite. This heightened socio-religious friction provides crucial context for the subsequent marriage of his daughter, Susanna Maria Knöpffel, in 1733 within this very
Grose Kirch. to the harpsichord maker Joannes Daniël Dulcken, and her eventual departure from Sankt Goar.








Rheinfels scherp




Married in Forbidden Time: The Hasty Advent Wedding of Harpsichord Maker Johannes Daniel Dulcken under Castle Rheinfels

SANKT GOAR
– On December 17, 1733, the marriage vows of the young, talented harpsichord maker Johannes Daniel Dulcken and his bride Susanne Maria Knöpfel echoed through the Stiftskirche of Sankt Goar. It was a cold winter day, right in the middle of Advent. Marrying on this date at all was an absolute rarity and an act of pure necessity. The Protestant church strictly enforced the Tempore Vetito: an absolute ban on weddings during the pre-Christmas period of reflection. But the young couple had no time to lose. High above the church towered their former home, the mighty Castle Rheinfels, which had recently been violently stripped from them by a Catholic occupier.



A stolen youth on a Protestant stronghold

To understand the immense pressure behind this rushed wedding, one must look at the history of the castle and the bride's youth. Susanne Maria Knöpfel was born in 1706 at Castle Rheinfels. In those days, this colossal fortress along the Rhine was an unshakeable Protestant stronghold. Since the Reformation in 1528, the Calvinist main branch of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel had proudly held sway there.
Susanne's father, Johann Conrad Knöpfel, served as
Proviant-Commissair and Stift-Kellner, making him the highest Protestant administrator of the castle's supplies. Susanne grew up in the safe, privileged seclusion of this Protestant garrison town.
However, this Protestant idyll came to an abrupt end when her father passed away before 1721, and shortly thereafter, a bitter noble succession dispute caused the castle to fall into the hands of the Catholic side branch,
Hesse-Wanfried. When the devout Catholic Landgrave Christian of Hesse-Wanfried-Rheinfels moved into the castle with his troops in 1731, Susanne's former home suddenly transformed into a hostile, Catholic island. The Protestant officials were expelled. The castle had literally been robbed from the Knöpfel orphans.


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The house in Wingeshausen where Johannes Daniel Dulcken spent his childhood and where the harpsichord featured in the advertisement above was built.



"Ten Sterfhuyze van d'Heer Joseph de Jonghe, overleden Bailliu binnen de Stad van Dixmuyde, is er te koopen uyt'er hand eene zeer schoone Clavecine gemaekt door J. D. DULCKEN in het jaer 1723, lang acht voeten, bestaende in dry Registers, te weten: twee Unisons, ende eene Octave; zynde van onder tot boven zeer sterk ende aengenaem, het Clawier is van vyf volle Octaven, beginnende van onder met Fa, ende eyndigende boven met den zelven Toon, het Clawier is ook konstig ende kostelyk, de platte Тооnеn zwart, ende de Deesen met de Bemols wit, de Kasse, gereserveert de Tafel om de resonnantie niet te beletten, zeer schoon geschilderd ende verguld, met eene Schilderye in het Deksel om de Tafel te conserveren voor alle nattigheyd. Item aldaer noch te koopen een goed en wel geconditioneerd Orgelken, zeer bequaem om in eene kleyne Kerke, ofte in een Concert. Die пае de zelve twee musicale Instrumenten gadinge hebben, konnen hun adresseren aen d'Heer Antbone Peellaert, Oud-Schepenen tot het voorzeyd Dixmuyde." Gazette van Gend, Waerschouwingen, 31/01/1771
"At the home of Mr Joseph de Jonghe, the late Bailiff of the City of Dixmuyde, a very fine harpsichord made by J. D. DULCKEN in the year 1723 is for sale by private sale; it is eight feet long and comprises three registers, namely: two unisons and one octave; the sound being, from the lowest to the highest notes, very strong and pleasant; the keyboard spans five full octaves, beginning at the bottom with F and ending at the top with the same note, the keyboard is also elegant and costly, the natural notes black, and the sharps and flats white; the case, with the soundboard left open so as not to impede resonance, is very beautifully painted and gilded, with a painting on the lid to protect the soundboard from any damp. Furthermore, also for sale there is a good and well-maintained small organ, very suitable for use in a small church or at a concert. Those interested in these two musical instruments may contact Mr Antbone Peellaert, former alderman of the aforementioned Dixmuyde.” Gazette of Ghent, Notices, 31/01/1771



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Mannus Riedesel (1662–1726) The vicarage at Riedesel; on the left, the Radebach photographer Grobbel Fredeburg, 1913, and the photographer Albert Ludorff, 1894

Flight during the Tempore Vetito

When Susanne found love in 1733 with the Protestant harpsichord maker Johannes Daniel Dulcken (the son of a pastor), the situation in the Rhine Valley had become untenable. With a Catholic Landgrave in the castle dominating the Protestant town of Sankt Goar, and the constant threat of approaching French troops, acute panic set in.
Waiting until spring was not an option, but the calendar was against them. Since the Middle Ages, the Church had enforced the
Tempore Vetito (the 'forbidden time'). Because Advent was originally a period of strict spiritual sobriety, reflection, and fasting, joyful celebrations and marriages were strictly prohibited by law. Even after the Reformation, Protestant churches maintained this rigid period of quietude.
The couple requested — and due to the crisis, received — a rare ecclesiastical dispensation to bypass this law. Without the customary weeks of public wedding banns, they hastily exchanged their vows.

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Heiratseintrag Johann Daniel Dülcken und Susanna Maria Knüpfelin transcriptie Dr. Johannes Burkardt
Compleet

17. [Decem]ber * Sindt H[er]r Johann Daniel Dülcken, Kauff- u[nd] Handels=mann,
H[errn] Pfarrers Dül=
ckens zu Winches=hausen (sic!) in der Graffschafft Berlenburg
Ehel[icher] Sohn, u[nd] J[ung]fer
Susanna Maria Knüpfelin, des weyland H[errn] Johann Conrad Knüpfels
gewesenen
proviant=Com[m]issarii u[nd] Stiffts=Kellers allhie,
nachgelasene Ehel[iche]
Tochter,
copuliret u[nd] den 23 t[en] augusti hui[us] anni zum
I stenmal p[ro]clamiret word[en].

* Darunter Eintrag mit blasserer Tinte, aber von gleicher Hand: „16. hui[us] de infra. N[ota] B[ene].“



While they sang Calvinist psalms below, they could see the Catholic castle guards patrolling high up on the Rheinfels. The wedding was not a grand celebration, but a strategic flight forward.

The escalation of the War of the Polish Succession in 1734 transformed the Rhine Valley into an unsustainable war zone. Although the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel managed to consolidate its control over Burg Rheinfels, French troop movements under commander Kleinholz and the fall of the nearby fortress of Philippsburg caused constant military threats and economic paralysis in St. Goar. For a newlywed couple from the administrative and merchant elite, this volatile borderland offered no secure foundation for the future. Consequently, they chose to relocate to Maastricht. As one of the most vital and heavily fortified garrison towns of the Dutch Republic, Maastricht provided the perfect safe haven. Politically and structurally stable, the city lay safely outside the immediate Rhenish theater of war while remaining superbly connected to international trade networks via the Meuse River. To survive, the families formed a strategic 'chain marriage': Johannes Daniel’s older brother, Johan Christian Dülcken, married Susanne's sister, Anna Christiana Knöpfel.


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The families lived side-by-side in a house/shop called "Het Gulde Cruijs" on the Munt, forming a united front.
Despite the help of unmarried sisters like Regina Magdalena Knöpfel, Johannes Daniel fell into deep financial trouble. The situation escalated in 1737 when he borrowed an astronomical sum of 600 guilders from the widow of the Maastricht mayor, Hesselt van Dinter. Since his income in Maastricht was insufficient to clear this massive liability, Johannes Daniel moved his family to Antwerp around the turn of 1737/1738 to seek his fortune there.
Although the Maastricht magistrate initially appointed a trustee over his left-behind property, Johannes Daniel proved his absolute integrity in Antwerp. His exquisite, masterfully built instruments found eager buyers. Time and again, they received
letters from the receiver in Maastricht, and each time Daniël had to reply. This continued until mid-1740. It is not clear how the debt was repaid. His regained prosperity and success were permanently sealed when, on January 21, 1746, he purchased three adjacent houses in Antwerp’s Hopland, where he established his world-famous workshop and became a highly respected citizen of the city.

uitvergroot
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MAASTRICHT


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Antwerp
Daniël probably sees more opportunities in Antwerp than in Maastricht to sell his harpsichords. After a period of decline, Antwerp is beginning to recover and is the place where the Ruckers family built their leading harpsichords. It is clear that Daniël wants to continue this family tradition. In 1740, the Dulcken family joins a small Reformed Church in Antwerp, the Olijfberg, where Johannes Diepelius is the pastor. In this Roman Catholic environment, the church community forms “a church under the cross” and is tolerated as long as it does not cause offence. This means that the small congregation often meets on Sunday mornings at the home of one of its members. In 1744, Daniël was appointed “elder (ouderling)” by Rev. Johannes Diepelius and thus took charge of church affairs, but the minister and Daniël did not get along. On 26 January 1740, their daughter Maria Sofia was born, followed by their son Joannes on 10 September 1742. They probably paid off their debts quickly. There are indications that this happened with the help of the Magistrate, who saw the harpsichord maker with his unique harpsichords as a good addition to the business community in Antwerp. In 1742, he became a member of the St. Lucas Guild and was granted citizenship of Antwerp. His wife Susanne sold glassware for a glassworks in Ykenvliet. In 1743, he sold a harpsichord to the Archbishop of Cambrai in France. They moved to Hopland on 21 January 1746. He later bought three houses on the same street. Johannes Daniël Dulcken was a well-known figure in Antwerp.

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At the turn of the year 1749, he sailed to London with two harpsichords and sold them there for 50 sterling.


Verthoont reverentelijck Jan daniel Dulcken, ingesetenen deser stad hoe hij ten verleden jaer 1749 is afgevaren van Ostende naar Londen in Engeland bij zigh hebbende twee clavesimbels uit het maken van welcke hij sigh binnen dese Stadt is geneirende. Dat de vertoonder in geselschap met Walter Schot , woonende binnen deze Stadt van het voorseijt Ostende is afgevaren….. Dat de voorn. Walter Schot op 15 janry 1750 onder onden stick de voorl. twee stucken clavesingers van de verhoorder heeft gecoght voor de somme van vijfftigh pond sterlinghs. (A.S.A. PK 841, Rekwestboek 1750, folio 50 -55.)

Jan Daniel Dulcken, a resident of this town, respectfully states that last year, 1749, he sailed from Ostend to London in England, taking with him two clavichords, the manufacture of which he carries on within this town. That the petitioner, in the company of Walter Schot, a resident of this city, set sail from Ostend as aforesaid… That the aforementioned Walter Schot, on 15 January 1750, purchased the aforementioned two clave-simbals from the petitioner for the sum of fifty pounds sterling. (A.S.A. PK 841, Petition Book 1750, folios 50–55.)




Harpsichords
Dulcken made harpsichords with single and double manuals, often with a range of five octaves and three registers: two 8' and one 4'. He decorated the soundboard with flowers and carved his initials into the rosette. About ten harpsichords made by him have survived. Daniel was frequently ill. On 26 August 1751, Daniel and a sick Susanne made a will at their home in Hopland. Their daughter Johanna Henriette received a diamond cross with twelve stones, while Johannes Lodewijk received their wedding ring. All movable and immovable property was bequeathed to the longest living spouse. They were in regular contact with their family in Berleburg. In 1752, he receives news that his father has died.
On 23 May 1756, their eldest son Johannes Lodewijk marries Catharina Koning in Amsterdam, where he makes and sells harpsichords in a workshop near the Kathuysers Kerkhof . On 23 February 1757, the ailing Daniël adds an appendix to his will, stipulating that after his death, the tools and instruments needed to make harpsichords and organs are to be left not to the surviving spouse, but to his son Joannes Dulcken. Joannes had to support his youngest sister Joanna Elisabeth (born 3 February 1747). Two weeks later, on Easter Monday, 11 April, Daniël died, Joannes was then 14 years old. Daniël was buried in the Putte cemetery

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Joannes Daniel Dulcken 1745 - Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente, 726
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Carolus Bigée: Schilder van syne Conste

MIM – Brussels: Johannes Daniel Dulcken harpsichord with painting by Carolus Bigée
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Herman Saftleven-Bigee

🇬🇧 The Secret Behind the Harpsichord Lid: From Herman Saftleven's Rhine Journeys to the Dulcken Dynasty

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Brussels

Widow Dulcken and her son Joannes continue the business, but things are not going well in Antwerp. Suzanne also sells glassware. In April 1763, they decide to move to Brussels. They already sell instruments there, but transporting them is expensive and time-consuming. Widow Dulcken asks the Magistrate of Brussels if they can obtain the same rights in Brussels as in Antwerp: citizenship and exemption from four taxes. She receives a negative response. Brussels does not recognise these privileges and does not want to make an exception for someone from outside the city, even if they claim to make unique instruments. They also doubt whether the Dulcken family actually has the rights they claim to have. Susanne Dulcken has stated that the harpsichords they make are the best in the Netherlands and are used at most concerts. Despite this negative response, they decide to sell their house and business in Hopland and move to Brussels. Meanwhile, their eldest daughter, Joanna Henriëtta Dulcken , has married Johann Hermann Faber, a well-known painter. In Brussels, things are not going as planned. Sales are too low, leaving the shop full of instruments. Susanne Dulcken decides to sell instruments in the towns around Brussels and therefore submits a request to be exempted from local taxes, so as not to ”haar niet in broodschaarste te laten (bread shortage)”. She does indeed receive exemption from the States of Brabant to sell her instruments in Antwerp, Leuven and surrounding areas.
Bankruptcy - Hasselt - Epe - Heerde
Unfortunately, trade in Brabant also proved unprofitable. Between 1765 and 1768, things went wrong and it was eventually decided to close the business. In 1771 , Joannes was found in Amsterdam63* and Susanna went to Hasselt (Overijssel), where her eldest son Johannes Lodewijk had a business. In August 1769 , Susanna became a member of the Reformed Church in Hasselt and went to live with her son in a stately mansion on Nieuwstraat. In 1776, when her son and his family leave for Antwerp, she stays behind in a small rented house. When she asks for support from the diaconate, she is expelled from the city as an undesirable alien and moves to Epe. In 1784, she leaves for Heerde71*, where she dies on 12 June 1789.


1.
Heirat von Conrad Knöpfel und Regina Magdalena Dirx am 29. April 1695 (KB 149/1, S. 255);
  2.
Taufe von Dietrich Conrad Knöpffel am 9. Februar 1696 (KB 149/1, S. 105);
  3.
Taufe von Maria Sophia Christiana Knöpfel am 9. November 1697 (KB 149/1, S. 116);
  4.
Taufe von Anna Margaretha Elisabeth Knöpffel am 24. September 1699 (KB 149/1, S. 125);
  5.
Taufe der am 18. April 1701 geborenen Anna Getrud Henriette Knöpfel (KB 149/1, S. 130);
  6.
Taufe von Johann Christian Ludwig Knöpffel am 21. Juni 1703 (KB 149/1, S. 137);
  7.
Taufe von Johann Henrich Werner Knöpffel am 23. Dezember 1704 (KB 149/1, S. 142);
  8.
Taufe der am 16. Mai 1709 geborenen Anna Christina Dorothea Knöpfel (KB 149/1, S. 158);
  9.
Taufe der am 28. Februar 1711 geborenen Maria Elisabeth Knöpffel (KB 149/1, S. 162);
  10.
Taufe von Johann Ludwig Knöpffel am 29. Dezember 1712 (KB 149/1, S. 168);
  11.
Taufe des am 22. November 1714 geborenen Johann Wollrath Knöpfel (KB 149/1, S. 177).



Horemans&Horemans


Scherm­afbeelding 2026-07-20 om 12.00.08
signed and dated lower left: J Horemans 1764 on the floor
 Pantalone & scapino

Pantalone & Scapino
Left - The Smoking Gun: Pantalone Invades the Salon


Harpsichords and Harlequins: Commedia dell’arte and the Migration of the Dulcken Family (1764)


scherm00adafbeelding-2024-03-16-om-13.55.13
signed and dated lower left: J Horemans 1764 on the floor

The Dulcken family and the Protestant Church in Brussels