Advanced Search 
Guitar-shaped violin
19th century
Object Place: France
Medium/Technique
Maple, spruce, ebony
Dimensions
Length 34.1 cm, width 17.7 cm (Length 13 7/16 in., width 6 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection
Accession Number17.1728
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsMusical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Chordophones
DescriptionBody of guitar form, without corners, with very narrow middle bouts. Back and ribs of maple. Belly of close grained spruce with elongated S-holes. Both back and belly with slight arching, purfling, and edges fitted flush (no overhang, as on standard violins). Violin-type neck, with peg-box and scroll of standard pattern. Finger-board and tail-piece of boxwood stained black. Three-quarter size violin bridge. Inside construction: top and bottom blocks; bass-bar and sound-post. Four strings. Reddish-brown varnish.
ProvenanceFrancis W. Galpin (1858-1945), Hatfield Regis, England; 1916, sold by Francis W. Galpin to William Lindsey (1858-1922), Boston, Massachusetts; 1916, gift of William Lindsey, in memory of his daughter, Leslie Lindsey Mason, to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 5, 1916)