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Harp-lute

"Similar body to the preceding, but with a base allowing the instrument to stand. [i.e. harp-lute by Edward Light, c. 1810 (Museum no. 37-1873) and unsigned harp-lute, c. 1815 (Museum no. 252-1882): Both have 'a body of seven ribs, with two sound slots in the centre rib.'] The belly is varnished and decorated with a dark border painted with flowers. Pin bridge and open soundhole. On the capital of the pilar is an angel painted in gold. The harmonic curve is pierced with a kidney-shaped hole, as in the preceding example, and forms with the neck one continuous curved member. The small fingerboard on the body, with nine ivory frets, is for the shortest two strings only, There are two ring stops and ten ditals." Antony Baines, Catalogue of Musical Instruments in the Victoria and Albert Museum - Part II: Non-keyboard instruments (London, 1998), pp. 68-69.

  • Date:
    about 1816 (Made)
  • Maker:
    Light, Edward [Person]
  • Collection:
    Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Inventory number:
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  • Place of production:
    London
  • Culture:
  • Period:
  • Materials:Painted and gilded wooden back (probably maple or sycamore), painted pine soundboard.
  • Specific materials/techniques:
  • Decorative elements:
  • Inscriptions:Light. Foley Place/ London. Patent, No. 58
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:
  • Repository:Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Measurements:Length: 83 cm, Width: 33 cm, Length: 70 cm maximum string length, Length: 20 cm minimum string length