Technical Library

DECORATION II: Soundboard painting

Hints for tasteful soundboard decoration…

Seal the wood of the soundboard first with a thin coat of shellac.
Oil paints are not suitable for soundboard decoration.
Choose and research a suitable historic model: Soundboard paintings don’t belong on Italian-style instruments.
Playing instruments can have their soundboards decorated, but the strings obviously must come off to allow access.
Keep the soundboard paint on the thin side.
Don’t get too close to your work, or it will end up too anal-retentive: It is the effect from a distance that you are after.
Nothing goes on top of the soundboard painting.
All soundboard paintings are improved by the shimmer of the strings, and a thin layer of dust with time.

About the Flemish Soundboard Painting Kit…

However elaborate or simple their case decoration, historic Flemish harpsichords always had decorated soundboards. Once you’ve become accustomed to the appearance of these instruments, a harpsichord with an unpainted soundboard can look partly undressed.

Sheila Barnes devised our Soundboard Painting Kit, based on the later Ioannes Ruckers style found on his 1637 single and 1638 double in the famous Russell Collection, University of Edinburgh.

We provide you with all the materials you will need as well as elaborately detailed instructions. The historical background is explained in the booklet, with step-by-step procedures and specific technical advice. Soundboard layouts are included, along with the full-size drawings to be used as patterns for the various elements of the decoration. The supplies include dry pigments, gum arabic (the correct medium), brushes, a palette knife, and small containers in which to store the colors.

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