English guitar, sycamore back and sides and ivory fingerboard, Thomas Perry, Dublin, Irish 1765-90.

"Fairly large-sized in the ordinary pear-shaped model. Back of one piece of sycamore. Belly with purfling simulated in ink, and a gilt rose of stamped copper in a pattern of musical instruments with a putto in the centre. The loose bridge is of wood in a curious shape with two spatulate feet. Seven ivory hitch studs at the base of the body.

The ivory fingerboard has fifteen brass frets and six capotasto holes. The head has worm machine tuning with ring-shaped fingerpieces, similar to 11/3 [Museum no. W.7-1919]. The finial in the form of a negro head is of inferior carving and possibly a later addition." - Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments (London, 1998), p. 50.

While the term 'negro' has been used in this record, it has since fallen from usage and is now considered offensive. The term is repeated in this record in its original bibliographic context.

This instrument formed part of the collections of Carl Engel (1818-1882) and was purchased by this museum for £2 in 1882.

The English guitar was derived from the cittern, a wire-strung instrument, widely played by fashionable ladies in the British Isles from about 1750 until 1810. It has six courses , four double and two single metal strings, tuned in the key of C. This instrument was built by Thomas Perry (c. 1745-1818), of Dublin, who was probably Ireland's finest luthier in his day. The use of an ivory fingerboard was a characteristic of Perry's work.

223-1882