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Virginal

16th or 17th century
Not on view
Technical description: Inner-outer case construction, the inner case and soundboard of cypress, rectangular shape with right rear corner cut off, protruding keyboard, no bottom exterior molding, top exterior molding only on the front side, outer case of painted deal; compass originally 50 notes, C/E-c3, with five split accidentals (F-sharp/ D, G-sharp/E, g-sharp, d1-sharp, g2-sharp), now 47 notes, with the three upper split accidentals removed (the three extra jacks are still present, but do not sit on a lever), jacks are modern replacements, boxwood naturals with boxwood arcades, black-stained hardwood accidentals, the seven lowest keys have signs of previous pull-down cords, keys guided by wooden slips in rear rack; pierced parchment rose in soundboard. (Douglas Maple, 1983)

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Virginal
  • Date: 16th or 17th century
  • Geography: Italy
  • Culture: Italian
  • Medium: Wood and various materials
  • Dimensions: Inner Instrument:
    perpendicular to keyboard 41.5 cm
    parallel to keyboard 156.8 cm
    depth 20.8 cm

    Overall instrument: 163cm x 60cm x 24cm
  • Classification: Chordophone-Zither-plucked-virginal
  • Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
  • Object Number: 89.4.1209
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

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Virginal, Wood, parchment, ivory, paint, Italian
Virginal
Italian
1540
Rectangular Octave Virginal, Ebony, beech, brass, leather, paper, parchment, ivory, German
Rectangular Octave Virginal
German
ca. 1600
Harpsichord, Michele Todini , designer Italian, Wood, gilt, ebony, ivory, parchment, Italian (Roman)
Harpsichord
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1670
Harpsichord, Wood, paint, various materials, Italian
Harpsichord
Italian
late 17th century
Double Virginal, Lodewijck Grouwels Flemish, active The Netherlands, Pine, spruce, paint, gilding, ivory, Flemish
Double Virginal
Lodewijck Grouwels
1600

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