Harpsichord

This harpsichord features very rich decorations, with maple and walnut herringbone marquetry on the sides, and ebony, mother-of-pearl and walnut burl inlaid work on the nameboard. The ebony jackrail is also inlaid with mother-of-pearl and the instrument’s entire profile is enhanced by an ebony frame inlaid with mother-of-pearl palm leaves. The keyboard, even though stylistically matches the other decorative elements, does not seem to be original. Instead, there is no reason to doubt the inscription, which attributes this item to the Milanese Antonio Scotti. It almost certainly refers to Giovanni Antonio Scotti "organist", a craftsman in organ and other keyboard instruments making , according to a meaning of the word that was common in the 1700s. Antonio Scotti is cited in a document of 1737 that was recently discovered at the Archive of the Metropolitan Chapter, Milan.