Archive

Anonymous Walnut English Bentside Spinet c.1770

Recently restored in our workshops and sold to a client in Germany, this English Bentside Spinet was an interesting project. With the case in Walnut with cross-banding and inlay, and an unusual Walnut stand with cabriole legs and drawer, the instrument had been converted into a dressing table when we found it. The keyboard was missing and the keywell had been covered in velvet. Whilst the soundboard was still present and in reasonable condition and there were strings on the instrument, the case, lid and stand were all in fairly poor condition. The namebatten was still present, but sadly any inscription had been cleaned off.

After discussion with the client, it was decided to give the new keyboard ebony naturals, bone and ebony arcades, and reclaimed ivory-topped ebony sharps. The soundboard was removed and repaired, allowing access to make structural repairs. New jacks, with turkey plectra, and a new jackrail were made and fitted to the spinet.

This instrument was restored in late 2010.