Psaltery, Central Europe, 19th century

Height x width x depth: 12.5 x 95 x 30 cm.

(or psalterium), a plucked or struck string instrument, trapezoidal in shape and made entirely of wood. The soundboard is flat and has a trapezoidal shape, with the oblique sides widening towards the lower part. In the centre, under the strings, there is a rich perforated decoration with floral motifs, which acts as a rosette, allowing the sound to propagate. Next to these perforations are painted female figures, probably allegorical or symbolic. On each side of the instrument, within rectangular panels, leafy and floral motifs appear, while in the centre is a swan, a recurring symbol of purity, beauty and transformation.