Regal 1575

This is Georg Voll’s “Regal,” a portable organ crafted in the mid-16th century, a period marked by the rise of Protestantism and significant social upheaval. Organs like this one weren't merely instruments; they were emblems of status and religious identity. Consider who had access to create and own such an object. Likely members of the upper classes who wanted to express their sophisticated taste and commitment to the church. The painted surfaces on the lids hint at a narrative, perhaps biblical or allegorical, inviting interpretation and conversation. Imagine the sound of the regal in a small chapel or private home—its music a form of personal expression and spiritual contemplation in an era defined by both piety and conflict. While the Reformation sought to democratize religious experience, objects like this regal remind us of the enduring presence of hierarchy and the varying ways individuals engaged with faith.