citole

Citole, formerly known as a gittern, later remodelled as a violin; wood, silver gilt, glass. The original parts are the back, sides and neck; the new parts are the sound-board with vaulted profile, the finger-board, tailpiece and bridge; a silver gilt plate engraved with the Garter and arms of Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, has been placed above the pegbox. The centre part of the trefoil is a replacement.The carved decorative panels with forest scenes comprising huntsmen, foresters, animals, the end terminating in a dragon.