Lyre Guitar

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Object Details

Description

This lyre guitar was made in the 19th century by an unknown maker. It is a six course (6x1) lyre-shaped guitar with a pine top, walnut back and sides, with two circular sound holes and a flat bottom. This popular “parlor” instrument was also known in France as "lyre anacréontique" and in England as "Apollo lyre."

Location

Currently not on view

Date made

1800 - 1899

ID Number

MI.095326

accession number

26512

catalog number

95326

Object Name

guitar

Physical Description

walnut (back; sides material)

pine (belly material)

metal (frets material)

ebony (frets material)

gut (strings material)

Measurements

overall: 31 in x 13 1/2 in x 3 7/8 in; 78.74 cm x 34.29 cm x 9.8425 cm

Related Publication

Densmore, Frances. Handbook of the Collection of Musical Instruments in the United States National Museum.

See more items in

Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Guitars

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-29a7-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_605714