Embossed Virginal Papers

I make embossed papers of the kind used to decorate the rectangular English virginals of the 17th century.

These instruments were usually very plain on the outside and highly, even gaudily decorated on the inside. The lid and keyboard flap were usually painted with rather naïve and often very busy pictures. Other parts, such as the front, had mouldings applied and in the spaces between them were painted arabesques and gilded embossed papers. The keyfronts are also found on some of the later English bentside spinets, but the border papers seem to be peculiar to this particular kind of instrument which itself was popular for only about 40 years.

The papers are made by traditional methods using quality handmade paper. The designs include:

Keyfront papers from an instrument by Philip Jones at Tabley
Keyfront papers from an instrument by Stephen Keene in the Russell Collection, Edinburgh
Keyfront papers from an instrument by John Loosemore in the Victoria and Albert Museum
Keyfront papers from a clavichord belonging to Paul Simmonds
Keyfront papers from the Harrass harpsichord in Sondershausen
Border papers from Jones
Long border papers from Keene
Wide border papers from Keene
Border papers from Loosemore
Jack-raiI border papers from Loosemore
Border papers from an instrument by Thomas White in the Victoria and Albert Museum
Border papers from an instrument by Lodewyck Theeuwes in the Victoria and Albert Museum

The papers are available either plain or gilded and when carefully laid create a striking and attractive decorative effect. They can also be effectively used as a border around a picture or mirror frame. I also make the embossed and pierced keyfront papers used on Ruckers harpsichords. These are made by a rather different technique and are then glued onto a vermilion background paper which shows through the piercing. The Harrass keyfronts are similar, but are glued directly onto the stained front of the key rather than a coloured backing paper.

Prices (at April 2014)

Keyfront papers, (per strip of 8) plain £8.00
Keyfront papers, (per strip of 8) gilded £9.00
Ruckers Keyfront papers, (per strip of 8) £8.50
N.B. The Loosemore keyfronts include 4 different designs on one strip (2 of each) as the original instrument was decorated with a random mixture of designs.
Border papers, plain £9.00
Border papers, gilded £10.50