Guitar

Matteo Sellas

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Alternative Title

Chitarra.

Instrument

Guitar

Instrument Family

Strings

Maker

Matteo Sellas

Place Made

Southern Europe ; Venice ; Europe ; Italy

Date Made

Circa 1640

Description

Soundboard of spruce, bookmatched, of generally fine close grain. Dendrochronological analysis of the soundboard shows that the last dated tree ring on the bass side of the soundboard is 1628, and on the treble side 1630. Bridge of ebony, 95mm long, 18.3mm (maximum) wide. Simple curved mustachios at either end. Inlaid floral vinework of black mastic below the bridge, around the soundhole and where the soundboard wood extends onto the neck. Soundhole 86mm diameter, intricate single tier rose of parchment topped with pearwood. Soundboard edged in fruitwood. Back and sides of yew, cut so that each rib is half light and half dark. Ebony spacers between each of the ribs. Maximum of five ribs at the sides, the one next to the soundboard being wider than the others. Maximum of 17 ribs on the back. The heel and neck have a sharp join, and there is a V-joint between the neck and the head. Core of the head of pine. Top of the head veneered with burr walnut. 10 tuning pegs of rosewood with an ivory dot at the top end of the shaft. Fingerboard of black stained walnut. Nut of ebony. Neck 325mm long. String setup: 5 courses: (5 × 2) strings, 10 strings in total. Overall size: 974mm Body length: 479mm Body width, upper bouts: 205mm Body width, waist: 186mm Body width, lower bouts: 252mm Body depth: 90mm (bottom), 99mm (waist), 74mm (neck join), maximum depth of back 132mm String length: 712mm Signature marks: No visible label. A previous restorer reported to Anne Macaulay that an inscription found inside the instrument gave the maker's name as Matteo Sellas, and the date as 1614. In light of dendrochronological work by John Topham this attribution is obviously not correct. It is possible the date was misread (1634 or 1644 perhaps?). Repair History: The pegs are not original. Technical drawing availabe at The Friends of St Cecilia's Hall. Please see http://www.stceciliasfriends.org.uk/

Notes

A. Macaulay, January 1982, January 1987, July 1991; D.P. Martin, 2003.

Measurements

974.

Collection

Macaulay Collection ; MIMEd

Accession Number

0279

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