ARNOLD DOLMETSCH OTTAVINO SPINET

Serial Number 752.

Ottavino Spinet: a virginal or spinet at four-foot pitch, i.e. an octave higher than on a standard
keyboard instrument. This instrument is also called an 'octave spinet', 'octavina' or
'spinettina'. Ottavini have been used as child instruments, private home accompaniment
instruments for singing, or simply as toys. Frescobaldi wrote three works specifically
calling for the use of the ottavino.

This hand-built Arnold Dolmetsch Ottavino, from one of the most celebrated of early musical instrument makers, has a walnut cabinet with brass strap hinges raised on four octagonal tapered legs and is complete with buff stop.

The four octave compass is C - C.

This instrument is structurally sound and in excellent condition, albeit with a few broken plectra.

Width 30 inches.
Height 30.5 inches when closed.
Depth 19.75 inches.