Archlute; lute; theorbo

An archlute (a chittarone with a cut-down neck). The body formed of 37 ribs of a dark wood (rosewood?) with bone fillets; the end clasp intact. The belly (soundboard) with a triple rose. The back of the neck inlaid with a trellis design in bone. Upper peg box open, lower peg box, closed. Six double courses of strings housed in the lower peg box; eight diapasons housed in the upper pegbox. The upper peg box is newer. Maker's label: Bas-sano Pardini in Firenze. Three repairer's labels: 1) Pier Anbonis Ma ....Florenze 1729. 2)Michael Rauche, Chandos Street, London. 3)Repaired by Alec Hodsdon, Lavenham, Suffolk, 1932.