Polygonal spinet virginals, cypress case and soundboard, Annibale dei Rossi, Milan, Italian, 1555.

"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.

The South Kensington bought this instrument for £150 from Rawdon Brown (1806 - 1885) in 1869. Brown was an expatriate Englishman, living in Venice, and reorganised the state archives there.

Annibale dei Rossi (active, 1542 to 1595) was Milan's leading keyboard instrument builder of his day. Although not as flamboyant as his 'jewelled spinet' (Museum no. 809-1869), this instrument is beautifully carved with musical trophies and statuettes holding musical instruments. It once belonged to Rawdon Brown (1806 - 1885), an English expatriate living in Venice, who was noted for his fine collections and for his reorganization of the city's archives.

156-1869