• Author: Michele Antonio Grandi
• Date: late XVII secolo
• Collection: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
• Material: white marble
• Inventory: Inv. Cherubini 1988/88

The saltery is a musical instrument that has been popular since ancient times.
This specimen is unique, since it was made entirely from various grades of marble, rather than the customary wood. The soundboard, in which two rosettes are carved, is made from a slab of statuary white marble; the case, on the other hand, is made of Bardiglio marble; the side parts are made of Brocatelle Jaune marble. Twenty rows of strings are stretched across the board, which were plucked with plectrums attached to the fingers or struck with thin hammers.

It is likely that this instrument had a mainly decorative function from the beginning and was a gift for Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici, as suggested by the coat of arms and the inscription inside the case. It is conceivable that the creator of this specimen was Michele Antonio Grandi from Carrara, renowned for having crafted several instruments entirely from marble for the Este court.