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Chitarrone (after 17th-century Italian type)
Possibly by: Leopoldo Franciolini (Italian, 1844–1920)
late 19th century
Object Place: Florence, Italy
Medium/Technique
Maple, pine, ebony, ivory
Dimensions
Length 194 cm, width 40.9 cm, depth 15.8 cm (Length 76 3/8 in., width 16 1/8 in., depth 6 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection
Accession Number17.1765
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Musical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Chordophones
DescriptionBack comprised of twenty-nine ribs of maple, each separated by strips of ebony, with capping strip. Wide sides pieces. Four-piece belly of irregular-grain softwood, with carved medallion of pearl inlaid at lower end. Soundhole encircled with discs of pearl with garnets at centers, set in black mastic. Separate rose of parchment in geometric pattern. Neck and pegboxes of ebonized wood, inlaid with strips of ivory. Tuning pegs of ebonized wood with buttons and inlaid discs of ivory. Fingerboard of ebony inlaid with grotesques and medallions of ivory. Eight tied-on frets of gut. Nuts of ivory. Bridge of ebonized wood. Eighteen strings: one single and five pairs on fingerboard, and seven diapasons. Reddish-brown varnish on back.
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)