Images(2)

English guitar

Date1767-1775

Maker John Preston

Artist/Maker J. N. Preston

Mediumspruce: top plate; maple: back and sides (curly), neck; ebony: fingerboard, rose hole inlay; tortoiseshell: finial; mother of pearl: finial; ivory: finial, rose inlay, saddle, bridge crown, capo; rosewood: bridge and nut; brass: watch key mechanism, frets

DimensionsDimensions: overall length: 27”; overall width: 11 ½”, overall height: 3 ½”

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1985-104

DescriptionA flat back single bout guitar with watch key tuning, five pairs of strings, mariner’s compass rose hole decoration in a spruce top plate, and decorative finial on a hook shaped extension of the stained maple neck (suitable for hanging). The ebony fingerboard has brass frets and a scalloped edge on the bottom. “Drawn purfling” borders the stained curly maple back.Mark(s)“LONGMAN & CO / PRESTON MAKER / LONDON” on neck behind watch key mechanismProvenanceCW purchased from Wurlitzer-Bruck (NY) in 1985