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Alto guitar
Probably by: Leopoldo Franciolini (Italian, 1844–1920)
late 19th century
Object Place: Florence, Italy
Medium/Technique
Maple, spruce, ebony
Dimensions
Length 54.3 cm, width 21.7 cm (Length 21 3/8 in., width 8 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection
Accession Number17.1752
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Musical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Chordophones
DescriptionTwo-piece back and ribs of maple. Belly of fine-grain spruce with binding of ebonized wood. Soundhole encircled by semicircles of pearl set in black mastic. Trapezoidal pickguard of dark brown wood. Neck and headstock of maple stained brown. Screw (?) through neck heel. Tuning pegs of mahogany (?). Fingerboard of ebony with seven frets of nickel silver and seven of horn. Nut and end button of ivory. Bridge of ebonized wood with ornamental ends. Amber varnish on body. Internal construction: Three lateral braces on back and at least three lateral braces on belly (two above belly).
InscriptionsPrinted label: Carlo Bergonzi fece / in Cremona l'anno 17 [handwritten: 85]
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)