Bentside Spinet 1684

Editor: So, here we have Charles Haward's Bentside Spinet from 1684. It's a wooden keyboard instrument that looks almost austere, yet undeniably elegant. I'm struck by how well it's survived, like a whispered secret from the Baroque era. What's your take on this piece? Curator: Oh, it whispers volumes, doesn't it? Forget mere furniture; this is sculpture *and* sound. The wood grain itself is a wild, silent song! Imagine the hands that crafted this – Haward, definitely feeling the Baroque urge for ornate expression but channeling it into deceptive simplicity. Do you notice how the geometric elements almost hide in plain sight, giving a sense of orderly chaos? Editor: Orderly chaos - that's a perfect description! I see the geometric shapes, but I wouldn't have thought of them as being chaotic, at first. So the geometric patterns were very intentional, not accidental? Curator: Intentional and integral, darling. Consider how the straight lines and right angles contrast with the curvaceous legs. This was high-society music-making at its finest! More than just a functional object. Tell me, what sort of person do you imagine owning it? Editor: Someone who appreciated refinement and culture, definitely. I'm also thinking it represents status, but with a certain…restraint. Someone of power, perhaps, who preferred a subtle display. Curator: Precisely. Power disguised as polished wood and pleasant melodies. Each careful detail tells a little story if we only pause to listen. It makes you wonder what music it played. Editor: This piece has made me rethink how musical instruments can also be seen as amazing pieces of art that really highlight status and artistic taste at the same time. Curator: My sentiments exactly! It’s a meeting place of craftsmanship, music, status, and artistic aspiration!