Guitar thumbnail 1
Not on display

Guitar

late 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The English guitar was in vogue from about 1750 until 1790, and was particularly popular among fashionable ladies in both Scotland and England. The modern Portuguese guitar is descended from this type of instrument. Although it was made in about 1780 or later, this instrument was slightly more old-fashioned in that it was plucked with nails rather than struck with keys, and tuned with wooden pegs rather than small bolts that were turned by a watch-key. This English guitar was made by Joseph Rudiman (1733–1810), widely regarded as the best Scotch violin and cello maker of his day.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Wood, ebony, ivory and tortoiseshell, with a gilt stamped metal rose
Brief description
English guitar with pear shaped body, made by Joseph Rudiman, Aberdeen, Scotland, late 18th century.
Physical description
English guitar with a pear shaped body, with 10 metal strings, 8 of which are tuned in pairs in unison, and with a metal rose. It has a panel of mother-of-pearl on the back which is inscribed. It is decorated with a red tortoiseshell fingerboard with silver frets and four capotasto holes.
Dimensions
  • Maximum length: 73cm
  • Belly length: 34cm
  • Width: 30cm
Credit line
Given to the Museum by Carl Engel
Summary
The English guitar was in vogue from about 1750 until 1790, and was particularly popular among fashionable ladies in both Scotland and England. The modern Portuguese guitar is descended from this type of instrument. Although it was made in about 1780 or later, this instrument was slightly more old-fashioned in that it was plucked with nails rather than struck with keys, and tuned with wooden pegs rather than small bolts that were turned by a watch-key. This English guitar was made by Joseph Rudiman (1733–1810), widely regarded as the best Scotch violin and cello maker of his day.
Collection
Accession number
375-1882

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Record createdSeptember 6, 2001
Record URL
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