An iconographic and ornamental interpretation of a lacca povera: The case of the spinet MNM 0698

Resumen

As with furniture, several eighteenth-century keyboard instruments were enhanced and ennobled through the use of ornament, techniques, and diverse materials. This article offers an iconographic and ornamental reading of the case of the spinet MNM 0698, an Italian instrument from the first half of the eighteenth century, preserved in the collection of the Museu Nacional da Música in Mafra (Portugal). Decorated with lacca povera, the case—originally intended to protect and transport the instrument—transcends its utilitarian role to become an object of display and prestige. A clear aesthetic intention is added to its usefulness: the surfaces were designed to be equally appreciated visually. The iconographic program, built from engravings of literary, mythological, naturalistic, and orientalizing inspiration, also reflects the experiences, tastes, and erudition of its owner and the public who experienced it.