Italian Spinet: Museum Object and Cultural History
Italian Spinet: Object Name: harpsichord. Physical Description: wood (overall material). Physical Description: metal (overall material).
The object in the museum catalogue
This harpsichord was made by an unknown maker in Italy, around 1690-1710. It is a bentside spinet with a compass of C/E to c3, and a disposition of 1 x 8’. This harpsichord has a spruce soundboard which contains a gilt parchment rose made of multiple layers, and boxwood naturals and black-stained accidentals.
The inseparable case is made of painted dark brown wood. The interior of the lid is painted with a landscape featuring a reclining figure in the foreground and two figures with a horse and two turreted castles in the background.
The trestle stand is made of dark-stained wood with simple turned legs and plain stretchers.
Materials, dates and provenance
- Object Name: harpsichord
- Physical Description: wood (overall material)
- Physical Description: metal (overall material)
- Physical Description: paint (overall material)
- Measurements: overall: 7 1/2 in x 63 in x 23 in; 19.05 cm x 160.02 cm x 58.42 cm
- place made: Italy
- ID Number: MI.326152
- accession number: 70920
- catalog number: 326152
- Credit Line: Gift of Hugo Worch
- Data Source: National Museum of American History
Sources and reuse
Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.
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