Guitar
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InstrumentGuitar |
Instrument FamilyStrings |
MakerRéne Lacôte |
Place MadeParis ; France ; Western Europe ; Europe |
Date MadeCirca 1830 |
DescriptionSoundboard of fine grained spruce, bookmatched. Dendrochronological analysis of the soundboard shows that the last dated tree ring on the bass side is 1728, and on the treble side 1727. The soundhole is 78.5mm diameter, edged in ebony, which is surrounded by alternate thin strips of ivory and ebony (10 of each). The soundboard is edged in ebony with alternate strips of ivory and ebony (5 of each) inside. The soundboard wood extends onto the neck, up to the centre of fret 10. The bridge is of ebony, with an ivory saddle. The main part of the bridge is 85mm long and 24mm wide, and the ends curve towards the top, ending with ebony dots and mother-of-pearl eyes. The back and sides are rosewood. There is a tapered ebony piece at the bottom, through which an ivory endpin passes. The back is of one piece, and is solid. There is an ebony edging between the back and sides. There are two plugged holes at the bottom end on the back, and one next to the heel. The heel is of solid rosewood, and flows smoothly into the neck, which is veneered in rosewood. The head is of maple, veneered on the back with rosewood. The neck flows smoothly into the head. The machine heads are brass, with a concealed mechanism, and ivory rollers and buttons. The top of the head is veneered in ebony. The nut is ivory. The neck is 308mm long, 47.5mm wide at the nut, and 59mm wide at the body join. The fingerboard is ebony. There are 17 frets in total, the highest five frets not of full width. Frets 10 - 17 are let into ebony pieces inlaid into the soundboard wood. The maker's stamp "Lacote / a Paris" appears on the top of the head. Inside the instrument are two labels, a handwritten one signed "F. Sor", and the other is printed, reading "F. BURKINYOUNG & Co. / Old Court House Street / Calcutta". The number "30" is stamped on the top of the head. Overall size: 923 Body length: 435 Body width, upper bouts: 226 Body width, wasit: 165 Body width, lower bouts: 296 Body depth: 86 (bottom) - 79 (neck join) String length: 628 Repair History: The frets are replacements. Technical drawing available from the Friends of St Cecilia's. Please see http://www.stceciliasfriends.org.uk/ |
NotesA. Macaulay, July 1991; D.P. Martin, 2003. |
Measurements923. |
ProvenanceProbably owned formerly by a member of the Somerset family. ; Gift of Wilfrid Appleby, 1985. |
CollectionMIMEd |
Accession Number2521 |