Johannes Zumpe
ActiveLondon, England, United Kingdom
BornFürth, Germany
DiedLondon, England
BiographyJohannes (sometimes referred to as Johann Christoph) Zumpe was born on 14 June 1726 in Fürth, near Nuremberg in Germany. It is likely that he worked early on with the German builder Gottfried Silbermann, immigrating during the Seven Years War (1756 – 1763) to London, England. Upon arrival to London, Zumpe worked briefly for the harpsichord maker Burkat Shudi before establishing his own workshop in Hanover Square in 1761. His earliest instruments include two English guitars, dated to 1762 and 1764, with his first pianos emerging in 1766; he is widely regarded as having been the first maker to construct square pianos in England. Between 1768 and 1778, Zumpe partnered with Gabriel Buntebart, and, from 1978, with Meinecke Meyer. He remained in London until 1784, at which point he returned to Germany and the firm was taken over by Frederick Schoene of Schoene & Co. Zumpe passed away on 5 December 1790 in London.
