Adela Ostrolúcka's spinet

Adela Ostrolúcka played this mid-19th-century spinet. The instrument has a compact, box-shaped body with rounded front corners. It stands on octagonal legs tapering towards the floor. Associated with music-making at home, it survives among the family's possessions.

The body is made of solid wood covered with walnut veneer and shellac polish. A thin layer of decorative timber therefore finishes a more substantial structure beneath. The rounded corners, shaped legs and surface of the case also make the instrument an example of period furniture.

Before entering the exhibition, the object underwent conservation following damage caused chiefly by moisture. It was taken apart and cleaned, and damaged areas were repaired. Detached pieces of veneer were glued back in place and the surface finish restored. The work addressed both the instrument's structure and its finish.