English guitar

English Guitar (cittern) 1760's or later with watch-key tuning (invented by John Preston who might have made the instrument, the rose and decorative treatment are typical of his work). Pear-shaped instrument with a quirk in each side, a central sound hole covered with a pierced cast metal rose. A figure playing a banjo-type instrument is in the centre of the rose, within a wreath. The finger-board is covered with strips of tortoiseshell with mother-of-pearl at the top.