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Cittern (Portuguese guitar)
José Paulo Ferreira (Portuguese, 19th century)
late 19th century
Object Place: Lisbon, Portugal
Medium/Technique
Walnut, spruce
Dimensions
Length 68.5 cm, width 28.9 cm (Length 26 15/16 in., width 11 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection
Accession Number17.1800
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Musical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Chordophones
DescriptionOne-piece back and ribs of walnut. Belly of fine-grain spruce with multi-line purfling along edges and encircling soundhole. Neck and sickle-shaped head of maple terminating in scroll. Watch-key tuning mechanism of brass with knurled knobs fanning out from top. Fingerboard of rosewood with seventeen frets of brass. Nut and saddle of ivory. Bridge of ivory on base of wood. Plate of brass with twelve knobs at lower end of body for fastening strings. Six pairs of strings. Internal construction: Two lateral braces on back (one above soundhole) and three on belly (one above soundhole).
InscriptionsPrinted label: José Paulo Ferreira / Fabricante de violas, guita[rra]s, bandolins e toda / a qualidade de instrumentos de corda / pertemcentes á sua arte / Concerta com perfeicao instruments antigos / R. 24 de Julho. Patoo da Torrinha. 32 / LISBOA / [handwritten: 1372]
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)