A Pair Of Virginals

A virginal, also called Virginals, or Pair Of Virginals, is a musical instrument of the harpsichord family. The virginal may take its name from Latin virga (“rod”), referring to the jacks, or wooden shafts that rest on the ends of the keys and hold the plucking mechanism. Unlike the harpsichord and spinet, the virginal’s single set of strings runs nearly parallel to the keyboard.

The mechanism of the virginals is identical to the harpsichord's, in that its wire strings are plucked by plectra mounted in jacks. Its case, however, is rectangular, and the single choir of strings—one per note—runs roughly parallel to the keyboard.

The strings are plucked nearer the middle rather than at one end, as with the harpsichord, producing a richer, flute-like tone.

Many, if not most, of the instruments were constructed without legs, and would be placed on a table for playing. Later models were built with their own stands.

An enharmonic virginal, made only in a number of cities in Italy; has a number of accidental keys that have been divided in half. These allow the instrument to have strings for both D# and Eb and for G# and Ab, which in old tuning systems are noticeably different notes.

This virginal was made in Leipzig by Martin Schwabe.

all information from:

Wikipedia

Britannica

MIAYF