Lute

Soprano Lute - Ivory

Castello Sforzesco, Milan
Western Europe

Ivory, Ebony, and Mother of Pearl
possibly 16th century

During the 16th century different-sized versions of the standard lute began to appear, such as this very rare soprano lute possibly from Castello Sforzesco, Milan. This 12- string lute (pre-mandolin) shows beautiful and elaborate scrimshawed design inlays on its back and neck with ebony, ivory, and mother-of-pearl. Upon close inspection, numerous animals and human faces are carved throughout. It is all original with the exception of modern carved ebony tuners with ivory rings and the replacement of old gut strings. This small lute has a round carved rosette, the fingerboard flush with the front, tied-on gut frets, a bridge that is glued to the front, and no scratch-plate. The peg box is angled back from the neck almost 90 degrees with the pegs on the underside, a characteristic of the 16th century lutes.

Owner:
Catalog#: HWMC

Buchner, Alexander, "Musical Instruments: An Illustrated History." Prague, Artia. 1973. Midgley, Ruth. "Musical Instruments of the World: An Illustrated Encyclopedia by the Diagram Group." Paddington Press Ltd. 1976. pg 185. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~lsa/index.html; http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/mandolins.htm#mandolinos

© Hartenberger World Music Collection