Bentside Spinet
1758 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
John Crang (active 1742-1792) was based in London and regarded as one of the finest builders of spinets and organs in his day. Spinets are smaller, wing-shaped versions of harpsichords, and were first made by Girolamo Zenti (d. 1668) in Italy in the 1630s. Unlike the virginal, the spinet has its jack-rail running parallel to and its strings at a diagonal to the keyboard, making it easier to play the all the notes with the same pressure. Despite Crang's reputation, a note was found inside this instrument, written by a certain Mrs Weston, who complained that her spinet was 'so bad that [she] cant [sic] play upon it'.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Burr walnut- and unfigured walnut-veneered pine case, planed spruce soundboard with gilt mouldings and painted arabesques along the edges, and carved beech bridge |
| Brief description | Bentside spinet, English, case veneered with burr walnut and unfigured walnut, by John Crang, 1758. |
| Physical description | Bentside spinet, with a range of 61 notes, GG-g3. The pine case is veneered with burr walnut panels, crossbanded with unfigured walnut, and decorated with ebony and boxwood stringing. The nameboard is decorated with a trophy of musical instruments in marquetry. The spruce soundboard is surrounded by gilt mouldings and painted arabesques. The sharps are ebony and the naturals are ivory-covered, with arcading at the front. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | SPINET
English
By John Crang, London, 1758
Inscribed Crang Londini Fecit and above Musica Laborum Dulce Levamen [Music, sweet relief to cares]
The sharps are ebony and the naturals ivory.
The instrument's range is GG - g3.
Keyboard Catalogue No.: 27
John Arnold in his Compleat Psalmody (London, 1761) ranked Crang among the best spinet builders. However, the owner of this example, a Mrs Weston complained that it "was so bad she cant a[play] it!" Crang built the chamber organ of Fonthill Splendens and a claviorganum (Harpsichord-cum-organ) for Carshalton Park, Surrey.
Bequeathed by Miss C. A. R. Adams.
W.16-1947(pre September 2000) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed to the Museum by Miss C.A.R.Adams |
| Object history | Bequeathed to the Museum by Miss C.A.R. Adams. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | John Crang (active 1742-1792) was based in London and regarded as one of the finest builders of spinets and organs in his day. Spinets are smaller, wing-shaped versions of harpsichords, and were first made by Girolamo Zenti (d. 1668) in Italy in the 1630s. Unlike the virginal, the spinet has its jack-rail running parallel to and its strings at a diagonal to the keyboard, making it easier to play the all the notes with the same pressure. Despite Crang's reputation, a note was found inside this instrument, written by a certain Mrs Weston, who complained that her spinet was 'so bad that [she] cant [sic] play upon it'. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.16:1,2-1947 |
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| Record created | May 16, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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