Advanced Search 
Lyre guitar
Joseph Pons (French, born in 1776)
1810
Object Place: Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Satinwood, spruce, mahogany, ebony, ivory, mother-of-pearl, nickel silver, sheep gut, silver, semi-precious stones, paste
Dimensions
Length 87.5 cm, width 45.8 cm (Length 34 7/16 in., width 18 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase with funds donated by Bradford M. and Dorothea R. Endicott
Accession Number2000.972
CollectionsEurope, Musical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Chordophones
DescriptionTwo-piece back and ribs of satinwood. Belly of fine-grain spruce with binding of ebony. Triple-line stringing along edges of belly and encircling soundholes. Two rosettes composed of gilded eight-petal flowers and leaves. Engraved and monogrammed shield of pearl inlaid into belly. Moldings of ebony along base of body. Neck of ebonized wood. Fluted columns of mahogany supporting yoke of gilded wood, terminating in carved spirals with acanthus leaves and pineapple at center. Tuning pegs of ebony. Fingerboard of ebony with fifteen frets of nickel silver (?). Nut of ivory. Bridge of ebonized wood and pearl, terminating in "moustaches." Bridge pins of ebony. Imitation gemstones at center of rosettes, yoke spirals, bridge pins, and tuning pegs. Buttons of ebony and pearl at heel of neck base of body for player's strap. Original coffin-type case of wood lined with green wool, bearing same monogram as on instrument.
Marks
Engraved into pearl shield on belly: Pons Fils / A / PARIS / 1810
InscriptionsEngraved into pearl shield on belly: Pons Fils/ A/ PARIS/ 1810
ProvenanceBy 2000, sold by a dealer, France, to Tony Bingham, London, England; 2000, sold by Bingham to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 25, 2000)
Rondo Pastorale Op. 3, No. 12 (from Douze petites pièces pour guitare ou lyre/Twelve Small Pieces for Guitar or Lyre Guitar), about 1820
Composed by Matteo Carcassi
Performed by Olav Chris Henriksen