Hurdy-gurdy

This small hurdy gurdy with its bell shaped body which has been decorated in gilt with the wheel cover black japanned and decorated with a gilt chinoiserie scene. The keybox has been added later and has ten bone and thirteen mahogany keys. The head which has also been added later is carved with a female mask. Hurdy-gurdys were string instruments with the strings being plucked automatically by a revolving wheel which was turned by the player using a handle.