Guitar thumbnail 1
Guitar thumbnail 2
+1
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Guitar

1755-1760 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The English guitar was in vogue from about 1750 until 1790. It was particularly popular among fashionable ladies who often preferred the version, like this one, that was fitted with piano-keys so as to preserve their nails from wire strings. Examples like this one were also tuned with a watch-key, most often in C major. The modern Portuguese guitar is descended from this type of instrument. This English guitar was made by Friederich Hintz (d. 1772), a German immigrant cabinetmaker, who specialised in making metal-inlaid furniture as well as musical instruments.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Sycamore, ebony and ivory, with stamped copper
Brief description
Guitar; by Frederick Hintz; London, Britain; 1755-60.
Physical description
Guitar; sycamore back, pine belly, pointed shoulders, rose of stamped copper gilt with a musical instrument & diaper pattern in centre. Ebony fingerboard with fifteen brass frets, square finial on neck with chequerboard pattern in ebony & ivory, detachable mechanism on body for striking strings with felted hammers, box with Royal Arms of England.
Dimensions
  • Total length: 69cm
  • Belly length: 34cm
  • Width: 31.5cm
  • Depth: 7.5cm
Measurements by Anthony Baines, author ofthe Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Part II: non-keyboard instruments.
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'F.HINTZ' (stamped on back)
  • 'PRESTON INVENTOR' (stamped on brass screw-tuning)
  • 'PRESTON, MAKER, LONDON.' 'PR' crowned (stamped on the wood of the head)
  • 'SMITHS PATENT BOX' over Royal Arms of England and the word 'LONDON' (printed on the lower part of the body)
Subject depicted
Summary
The English guitar was in vogue from about 1750 until 1790. It was particularly popular among fashionable ladies who often preferred the version, like this one, that was fitted with piano-keys so as to preserve their nails from wire strings. Examples like this one were also tuned with a watch-key, most often in C major. The modern Portuguese guitar is descended from this type of instrument. This English guitar was made by Friederich Hintz (d. 1772), a German immigrant cabinetmaker, who specialised in making metal-inlaid furniture as well as musical instruments.
Collection
Accession number
37-1870

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 8, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest