Brad McEwen wrote: > A theatrical prop used for a 19th C. Shakespearian play perhap?
I think we can rule that possibility out. Naylor lived in the dark ages of musicology and was of course misinformed and/or ignorant about much regarding the topic he tried to handle. But he would certainly have been able to tell an old instrument from a new one and I think we can trust his honesty. I forgot to mention that he got the instrument - and most of the others in the book's only picture - from South Kensington Museum. I understand that's what is called the Victoria and Albert Museum today. Apparently only the virginal is still in their collection though. Here's the complete picture: http://www.pictures-clipart-graphics.com/files/na/naylor1896-000g-a-bg.jpg Frank Nordberg http://www.musicaviva.com To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
