A Franco-Flemish double-manual harpsichord, originally a 'transposing' harpsichord made in Antwerp in 1617, possibly by Frans van Huffel.  It was given a bass ravalement in Paris in 1750 by François Étienne Blanchet and it was later given a treble ravalement in 1786 by Jacques Barberini and Nicolas Hoffmann.

 

The Tomasini decorations on the jackrail

The decoration on the top of the jackrail of the Franco-Flemish harpsichord, not yet cleaned or restored.

 

 This decoration is mostly in a style quite different from that of the rest of the decoration of the instrument and seems to have been added to by the decorator who worked for Tomasini around 1889.

 

Return to the section on the ethical problems encountered in the restoration of the Franco-Flemish harpsichord

 

Return to the section on the description of the Franco-Flemish harpsichord