Harp guitar and case
Object No. H7155
Harp guitar and case, wood / metal / textile, possibly M Levien, London, England, c. 1815-1825
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Summary
Physical Description
Harp-lute comprises triangular body which has curved bottom side. Back is made in three sections of brown wood. Soundboard of brown [cedar] wood with sound hole with gold wooden sunbeams radiating from centre. Neck and headstock attached to body. Seven strings, similar to modern guitar, but with 7th tuning machine at side of neck at 6th fret. Gold figurehead on headstock. Bottom side in one piece. Narrow oval hole in back. Back sections joined by black strips. Black [ivory] surround of sound hole has 6 concentric white rings. Central rose of gold painted wood with sunbeams radiating from coat of arms. Rose has been re-glued and traces of original attachment behind soundboard. Bridge set in black wooden saddle with "horned" ends pointing towards neck, and 7 bridge pins. Original bridge pin holes have been filled. Neck in black attached to body. Fret board meets body at 12th fret and continues on soundboard to 18th fret to sound hole. Fret Dots, headstock in black wood, same piece as neck with 6 metal tuning machines, 3 each side similar to modern guitar. 7th string machine also metal. All tuning keys have white ivory knobs. Black painted wooden head with oval wooden medallion in gold applied to front of headstock and featuring ring of radiating sunbeams around figurehead (possibly Apollo) in centre. Replacement wooden nut, wooden strap peg made from repurposed violin tuning peg. -2 Khaki canvas case with handle and shoulder strap and drawstring.
DIMENSIONS
Height
990 mm
Width
340 mm
Depth
140 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Levien, (either L. or Mordaunt) was probably French, but worked in the first quarter of the 19th century in London in Pleasant Row, Pentonville. He built several types of guitar-like instruments popular at the time, called harp-lute or harp-guitar. Another report says that he was a professor of music in London, and that in 1825 he applied for a patent for the harp-guitar in Paris.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs J G Dovey, 1979
Acquisition Date
5 November 1962
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