Salterio hammers - Model Ferdinando Allevi

These salterio hammers are exact replicas of a pair of hammers that have been preserved in the Museum of Musical Instruments in Brussels. Although these hammers have not been dated by the museum, their construction makes it very likely that they originate from 18th century Italy, where hammers of this type are described several times in the documents. Together with the museum, I initiated a detailed documentation of the hammers, in which the dimensions, weight, varnish and material were precisely determined by analyzing the wood.

This model was made from boxwood and has leather covers on the heads. It is of interest to any salterio player who wants to use authentic playing material in their practice. I named this pair of hammers after Ferdinando Allevi. Marquis Allevi was a salterio student at the Collegio dei Nobili San Francesco Saverio in Bologna during the years 1714-1720, and in his accounts I found the first evidence of the battuto technique in Italy in the 18th century. I will always remember his name!