WALTER MAENE VIRGINAL, Sint Eloois Vijve, 1974

Born in 1937, Walter Maene received his piano technique training in the piano workshop of his father Albert Maene. He is the older brother of Chris Maene. From a very early age he was interested in building instruments and more specifically historical harpsichord building.   
At the end of the 1960s, Walter Maene studied harpsichords and virginals both in the Museum Vleeshuis in Antwerp and in the Musée instrumental du Conservatoire de Paris, where he met the restorer Hubert Bédart. This replica of a virginal / muselaar was constructed in 1974 from an original of Joannes Couchet (Antwerp 1650). 

Technical data:

• Inscription: Walter Maene me fecit St.Eloois.Vijve
• Compass: 45 notes (C/E-c''')
• Keyboard: naturals in bone, sharps in ebony
• Dimensions: W 171 cm / D 50 cm
• Case: case with understated decoration of russet marble-effect paintwork. All the decorated paper has been printed in the Walter Maene workshop
• Chris Maene Collection number: CM 67 364
• Condition: playing condition
• Location: 2 - Museum "Chris Maene Collection" Ruiselede