Archlute
1637 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Archlutes were played between about 1600 and 1650. This instrument would most likely have been called a liuto attiorbato (or theorboed lute) at the time it was made. It has seven courses or pairs of strings immediately above the fingerboard, which provided the melody and six separate courses which provided more bass. At this time it was only possible to make gut strings lower by making them longer, and the only way to accommodate them on the instrument was to use a longer and slightly twisted neck.
Matteo Sellas (fl. 1614-1650) worked at the sign of the crown (alla Coronna) in Venice. He was probably German in origin, like most lutemakers working in Italy at the time. A number of highly decorative instruments with Sellas' signature are found in public collections and he is considered to have been one of the finest luthiers of his day.
Matteo Sellas (fl. 1614-1650) worked at the sign of the crown (alla Coronna) in Venice. He was probably German in origin, like most lutemakers working in Italy at the time. A number of highly decorative instruments with Sellas' signature are found in public collections and he is considered to have been one of the finest luthiers of his day.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Scrolled marquetry ebony and ivory veneering, engraved ivory plaques, ebony stringing, planed softwood (probably pine), fruitwood (possibly pearwood) |
| Brief description | Archlute, made by Matteo Sellas, Venice, 1637 |
| Physical description | 'Back of fifteen ivory ribs with double ebony stringing between. The belly is finely carved with a rose and has ivory heart-shaped ornaments at each end. The back of the neck has marquetry scrollwork decoration of ivory and ebony. The front is veneered with ebony surrounding ivory bands engraved with scrollwork and landscapes. Eleven thin brass frets have been added at a later period. The main pegbox has fourteen pegs for seven double courses, and the upper has the same, though the upper nut is grooved for five double courses.' Anthony Baines, Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum: Part II: Non-Keyboard Instruments(London, 1978), p. 31. |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | Archlute
1637
The pitch of a lute varied according to its size. This archlute has an extended range in order to accompany singing or to play the important bass part in a small instrumental ensemble. It is by the most prolific and renowned Venetian maker of guitars and lutes of the time. Like most other instrument makers in Italy then, he probably came from Germany.
Italy (Venice)
By Matteo Sellas
Softwood, fruitwood and ivory; marquetry in ebony and ivory(09.12.2015) |
| Object history | The instrument had brass frets fitted it at a much later date than 1638 (probably the nineteenth century); the originals would have been of gut. The two sections of ivory inlay below the bridge appear to be restorations. It was bought from M. Baur of Paris in July 1869 for £40. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Archlutes were played between about 1600 and 1650. This instrument would most likely have been called a liuto attiorbato (or theorboed lute) at the time it was made. It has seven courses or pairs of strings immediately above the fingerboard, which provided the melody and six separate courses which provided more bass. At this time it was only possible to make gut strings lower by making them longer, and the only way to accommodate them on the instrument was to use a longer and slightly twisted neck. Matteo Sellas (fl. 1614-1650) worked at the sign of the crown (alla Coronna) in Venice. He was probably German in origin, like most lutemakers working in Italy at the time. A number of highly decorative instruments with Sellas' signature are found in public collections and he is considered to have been one of the finest luthiers of his day. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1126-1869 |
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| Record created | December 6, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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