Grant O’Brien
Conclusions
Using the methods outlined here it has been possible either to confirm, or to determine, the place of construction of all five of the Italian stringed keyboard instruments in the Russell Collection. In some cases this has thrown up some interesting surprises and unexpected conclusions. In some cases it has helped to confirm the identity of the author or the author to whom the instrument was attributed. It has also enabled the prediction that Petrus Michael Orlandus was from Sicily, a result that might be confirmed through archival work in the future. In the case of the Bolcioni harpsichord it has enabled a determination of the original length of the case, and of the original compass, disposition and string scalings in a way that had defeated previous researchers.
An analysis of the unit of measurement used in the design and construction of an instrument can reveal many of its aspects, not just of its place of construction which is the most obvious feature, but also including the confirmation or rejection of an attribution and many aspects of its construction and design, and a determination of the original state of a much-altered instrument.
Figure 16 - Re-constructed original plan and
elevation views