Spinet.

John Player

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Instrument

Spinet/Harpsichords/Keyboard/Musical Instrument ; Spinet

Instrument Family

Keyboard

Maker

John Player

Place Made

London ; Europe ; England ; United Kingdom

Date Made

Circa 1705

Description

Technical description: English bentside spinet. Compass 54 notes G₁/B₁ - D₆ [GG/BB - d''']. Broken octave. Split keys C♯₁ and D♯₁ provide A₁, C♯₁, B₁, and D♯₁. Originally only 52 notes (to C₆), two extra keys added in the treble circa 1720. Bottom key signed “T A” and original top key inscribed “Las[t]”. The hexagonal shape of this spinet, halfway between the pentagonal and bentside spinet, is characteristic of the instruments of John Player. The stand with turned legs is original. The original inscription was presumably on the original jackrail. String length (plucking points): D₆ 125 (57), C₆ 141 (59), F₅ 222 (73), C₅ 284 (99), F₄ 440 (86), C₄ 564 (96), F₃ 796 (97), C₃ 949 (98), F₂ 1170 (102), C₂ 1281 (99), B₁/E♭₂ 1256 (101), A₁/C♯₂ 1218 (101), G₁/ B₁ 1302 (102). Repair History: Restored by Hugh Gough, and by Robert Goble & Son in 1967, with further restoration by Richard Clayson and Andrew Garrett.

Notes

Sheila Barnes, 2007.

Measurements

1467

Provenance

Bought by Raymond Russell in 1952; ex- T.B. Hardy. ; Gift of Mrs Gilbert Russell, 1964.