clavicytherium
A Klaviziterium or clavicytherium ( also Claviciterium , Klavizitherium or Klavicitherium ) is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the tone of the strings by scribing is done in analogy to the harpsichord by keels . When clavicytherium but the strings are perpendicular , ie vertically to the keys , similar to a small piano , which can be placed against a wall to save space
The clavicytherium was already early 16th century popular and can be considered a precursor of upright pianos ( uprights ) . The historic clavicytherium experienced a renaissance in the 1950s , as JC Neupert ( Bamberg ) made a so designated Cembalino in Klein Piano Shape with retractable keyboard and vert
Anonymus, Clavicytherium (Chordophone-Zither-plucked-harpsichord), frühes 17.Jhdt., Italien, from The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889, © The Metropolitan Museum of Art
An Early Clavicytherium Reconstructed by Peter Bavington
http://www.harpsichord.org.uk/EH/Vol3/No6/clavicytherium.pdf