Apollo Lyre
Guitar Lyre
ca. 1813 (made)
ca. 1813 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Variants of guitars, shaped like harps or ancient lyres, were much in vogue in Great Britain, France and Germany between about 1810 and 1830. They were mostly played by fashionable ladies to accompany themselves singing, but this particular instrument was used by the orchestra of the Royal Pavilion at Brighton. Robert Warnum the elder (ca. 1742–1815) traded from 42 Wigmore Street, London, publishing music and selling pianos and stringed instruments. His son, also called Robert (1780–1852), carried on the business, and although he specialised in pianos, it was most likely he who capitalized on this particular craze.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Apollo Lyre (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Sycamore and painted pine |
| Brief description | The 'Apollo Lyre', Back of Sycamore and top painted pine, by Robert Wornum, England (London), about 1813 |
| Physical description | Back of Sycamore and top painted pine. The tuning box is hidden behind an Apollo mask. The instrument is strung with six strings, and was tuned like the English Guitar, in the key of C major. Inscribed 'R.Wornum Maker 42 Wigmore St. Cavendish Sq.' |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'R.Wornum Maker 42 Wigmore St. Cavendish Sq.' (Inscribed) |
| Gallery label | APOLLO LYRE
By Robert Wornum, about 1813
Inscribed R.Wornum Maker 42 Wigmore St. Cavendish Sq.
Back of Sycamore and top painted pine. The tuning box is hidden behind an Apollo mask. The instrument is strung with six strings, and was tuned like the English Guitar, in the key of C major.
Non-Keyboard Catalogue No.: 13/3
Robert Wornum (1742-1815) operated from Wigmore Street from 1777 until 1815. His firm published music and made violins, cellos and pianos.
891-1875(pre September 2000) |
| Object history | This instrument was given to the South Kensington Museum in 1875 by H.W.Henfrey, Brookchurch, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight. At the time that it was acquired it was described as 'formerly belonging to the Prince Regent's band at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton' |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Variants of guitars, shaped like harps or ancient lyres, were much in vogue in Great Britain, France and Germany between about 1810 and 1830. They were mostly played by fashionable ladies to accompany themselves singing, but this particular instrument was used by the orchestra of the Royal Pavilion at Brighton. Robert Warnum the elder (ca. 1742–1815) traded from 42 Wigmore Street, London, publishing music and selling pianos and stringed instruments. His son, also called Robert (1780–1852), carried on the business, and although he specialised in pianos, it was most likely he who capitalized on this particular craze. |
| Bibliographic reference | Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard insturments. (London, 1998), pp. 65 - 66. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 891-1875 |
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| Record created | May 16, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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