Object Details
Description
This guitar was made by an unknown maker in the United States around 1845-1855. It is a six course (6x1) guitar with a spruce top, maple sides and back, and a machine head. The back of the guitar is painted with scenes from the popular British nursery rhyme, “This Is the House That Jack Built." The depictions include "The House That Jack Built," "The Maiden All Forlorn," "The Cat That Caught the Rat," "The Rat That Ate the Corn," "Good-Morrow, Sir Priest! Will You Marry Us Two?" "The Dog That Was Tossed," "The Cow With The Crumpled Horn," and "The Man All Tattered and Torn." The guitar has a strap made from ribbon, possibly silk.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Mary E. Maxwell
date made
1845 - 1855
ID Number
MI.381936
accession number
160028
catalog number
381936
Object Name
guitar
Physical Description
silk? (strap material)
maple (back, sides material)
spruce (belly material)
metal (tuning pins material)
Measurements
overall: 34 1/4 in x 11 3/4 in x 3 1/2 in; 86.995 cm x 29.845 cm x 8.89 cm
place made
United States
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
Music & Musical Instruments
Guitars
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_605731