(ANSA) - The world's only known marble harpsichord, a precious instrument made in the 17th century for the noble D'Este family, is set to return to its home in Modena.
The newly-restored harpsichord will be unveiled to the public on Friday at the northern city's Estense Gallery.
The instrument, whose Carrara marble case is delicately carved with leaves, tulips and rosettes, was made in 1686 by Tuscan master craftsman Michele Antonio Grandi for Francis II d'Este, the duke of Modena.
All trace of it was lost in 1872, when the last d'Este dukes left Modena.
But it recently resurfaced on the antique circuit, where it was snapped up by a Modena bank with the help of the Italian Culture Ministry.
The bank, the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Modena, has restored the instrument to its full glory and donated it to the Estense Gallery, where it will join a famed marble guitar also made by Grandi.
