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Virginal

"This spinet is pentagonal in shape and is of cypress wood. The inner face of each wall and the surrounds of the keyboard are finely carved in relief with putti among floral scrollwork. A carved wooden rose of geometrical pattern is let into the soundboard. Two small figures carved in the round and holding respectively a Lyra da braccio [early type of violin] and a lute flank each side of the keyboard. Compass: C-f3 [fifty notes], bass short octave. The naturals are of ivory and decorated with arcaded fronts. The accidentals are of ebony faced with horn and inlaid with ivory and ebony stringing." - Raymond Russell: Victoria and Albert Museum Catalogue of Musical Instruments. Volume I. Keyboard Instruments. (London, 1968), pp. 31 - 32.

  • Date:
    1555 (Made)
  • Maker:
    Rossi, Annibale
  • Collection:
    Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Inventory number:
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  • Place of production:
    Milan
  • Culture:
  • Period:
  • Materials:Planed, joined and carved cypress case, planed cypress soundboard with carved fretwork rosette, ivory naturals, ebony sharps faced with horn and ivory stringing, ivory studs on top moulding.
  • Specific materials/techniques:
  • Decorative elements:
  • Inscriptions:Opus Anibalis Mediolanensis MDLV The work of Annibale of Milan, 1555
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:
  • Repository:Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Measurements:Length: 152.5 cm maximum, Width: 51 cm maximum, Height: 20 cm, Weight: 11 kg whole