Harp-Lute-Guitar
about 1810 (Made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
As its name would suggest, the harp-lute-guitar is a hybrid of all three instruments, but unlike other fashionable variants, it's pegbox arrangement was similar to that of a lute, with additional unstopped strings in the bass. This example was made by Mr Harley, who traded only under his surname from Wych Street, London, from about 1800 until 1820. The 'Prince-of-Wales' feathers, which form the rose, may refer to Princess Charlotte (1796 - 1817), the Prince Regent's only daughter and an enthusiast for such instruments.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | planed, joined, gilded and painted wooden soundboard and ribs; ebony fingerboard with ivory frets. |
| Brief description | Harp-lute-guitar, gilt and painted decoration, Harley, English, about 1810. |
| Physical description | "Body of three ribs, the centre rib having an open slot-shaped soundhole, all stained dark brown, with gilt lines forming the borders. Belly with crudely painted gilt scroll-work borders, and with an inset rose fretted to form a Prince of Wales's feather-pattern with trumpets. Fixed bridge. The neck is affixed to the body a little over to the treble sides and has twelve ivory frets. The main pegbox is for seven gut strings, and the upper, which has a square finial and a slightly oblique nut, is for four strings." - Anthony Baines,Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments (London, 1998), pp. 67-68. The woods are are painted and gilded so they cannot be identified. However, pine and sycamore were the woods most commonly used, the former for the soundboard and the latter for the back and sides. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Harley. Maker (Painted on a scroll on the rose.) |
| Gallery label | HARP-LUTE-GUITAR
English, about 1810
Inscribed Harley. Maker.
Non-keyboard catalogue: 13/7
Harley's were a London firm, and the instrument was designed by Edward Light. Harp strings were recommended and all but the first two and the last one were tuned diatonically.
250-1882(pre September 2000) |
| Object history | This instrument was part of the collections of Carl Engel (1818-1882) and was bought by the Museum in 1882 for £3. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | As its name would suggest, the harp-lute-guitar is a hybrid of all three instruments, but unlike other fashionable variants, it's pegbox arrangement was similar to that of a lute, with additional unstopped strings in the bass. This example was made by Mr Harley, who traded only under his surname from Wych Street, London, from about 1800 until 1820. The 'Prince-of-Wales' feathers, which form the rose, may refer to Princess Charlotte (1796 - 1817), the Prince Regent's only daughter and an enthusiast for such instruments. |
| Bibliographic reference | Anthony Baines: Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments. (London, 1998), pp. 67-68. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 250-1882 |
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| Record created | May 16, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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