Polychromed walnut psaltery. Italy. 15th – 16th century.

Polychromed walnut psaltery. Italy. 15th – 16th century.
Rare psaltery, a musical instrument with medieval origins belonging to the zither family.
88 x 40 x 6,5 cm.
The main body of the instrument is trapezoidal and made of walnut wood polychromed in red, yellow and black with decoration of ivy leaves coiled into branches. There is decoration on the upper side with two perforated and polychromed rosettes. There are 17 strings grouped in twos and threes. Most examples that can be found of instruments similar to this are hammered dulcimers, which were played by hitting the strings with small hammers rather than plucking them. The similar examples in museums are mostly later instruments dating from the 18th century.