Michael Autorino Plucked Psaltery

A very nice instrument, with a lovely tone. Michael Autorino made psalterys, autoharps, hammered and mountain dulcimers.

Unlike its more modern counterpart, the bowed psaltery, a plucked psaltery dates back to medieval times. A plucked psaltery is made from a raised board or wooden box. It has soundholes and strings that stretch parallel to its soundboard. The strings attach at each side by metal pins or wooden pegs. The strings are usually metal strings that are plucked and played somewhat like a harp. However, it’s not related to the harp. The plucked psalteries ancestors are harpsichords and spinets.

Plucked psalteries can be seen widely in sculpture, paintings, and manuscripts dating from the 12th century through to the 15th century. There are big varieties in the number of strings and the shapes of the instrument. Often, the strings are like lutes and run in courses of multiple strings. The most famous type of psaltery in medieval times was a pig’s snout or hognose psaltery. These were made in a shape that resembled a pig’s profile. They were like scalloped trapezium shapes to be exact. These ‘hog nose’ psalteries were most popular throughout the Renaissance period and the Baroque period and were often heavily decorated with a painted trim and rosettes.

Psalteries had all but disappeared in Europe by the turn of the 19th century with related instruments beginning to take over. For example, the hammered dulcimer, the santur, the yangqin and the cimbalom. These introduced hammers to the strings instead of them being plucked.

This plucked psaltery is in great condition. We believe it to be made in the 1960's or 1970's. We tuned and cleaned this for you. Everything is in good order. It has some wear to it, but nothing bad. Comes with a tuning wrench.

Available for pickup only at our showroom.

• Made in the USA
• Spruce top
• Removable pin cover
• 4 legs with casters
• Tuning wrench