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Arch-cittern
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French,
18th century
Sébastien B. Renault
Paris
,
ca. 1780
Classification: Chordophone
Credit Line: Gift of Joseph Iadone
Accession Number: 4566.1960
Department: Yale Collection of Musical Instruments
Description
The piriform body is comprised of eleven ribs of sycamore separated by narrow bands of holly. Neck and pegbox are of maple. Table of spruce with floral painted border and parchment rose. The main pegbox holds 11 pegs for the stopped strings (4 double-strung courses and 3 single strings); the second pegbox holds 5 pegs for single, unstopped strings.
The cittern enjoyed a long history as a popular instrument easier to play than the lute. In its classic form it had a piriform body in outline, a flat back, and metal strings. A bass form of the instrument was popular in France in the later 18th century; called 'archicistre,' this instrument adopted the two pegboxes, gut strings, and even occassionally the lute-type body of the theorbo.
The cittern enjoyed a long history as a popular instrument easier to play than the lute. In its classic form it had a piriform body in outline, a flat back, and metal strings. A bass form of the instrument was popular in France in the later 18th century; called 'archicistre,' this instrument adopted the two pegboxes, gut strings, and even occassionally the lute-type body of the theorbo.
Inscriptions
Stamped on lower end of the finger-board in gold letters: "Renault a Paris"; stamped on the soundboard and back of peg-box: "S. B. RENAULT / A PARIS".
Dimensions
Overall length: 114.3 cm, Length of body: 47.0 cm, Width of body: 35.6, Depth of body: 15.2 cm
Arch-cittern
Photo credit: Alex Contreras
Description
The piriform body is comprised of eleven ribs of sycamore separated by narrow bands of holly. Neck and pegbox are of maple. Table of spruce with floral painted border and parchment rose. The main pegbox holds 11 pegs for the stopped strings (4 double-strung courses and 3 single strings); the second pegbox holds 5 pegs for single, unstopped strings.
The cittern enjoyed a long history as a popular instrument easier to play than the lute. In its classic form it had a piriform body in outline, a flat back, and metal strings. A bass form of the instrument was popular in France in the later 18th century; called 'archicistre,' this instrument adopted the two pegboxes, gut strings, and even occassionally the lute-type body of the theorbo.
The cittern enjoyed a long history as a popular instrument easier to play than the lute. In its classic form it had a piriform body in outline, a flat back, and metal strings. A bass form of the instrument was popular in France in the later 18th century; called 'archicistre,' this instrument adopted the two pegboxes, gut strings, and even occassionally the lute-type body of the theorbo.
Inscriptions
Stamped on lower end of the finger-board in gold letters: "Renault a Paris"; stamped on the soundboard and back of peg-box: "S. B. RENAULT / A PARIS".
Dimensions
Overall length: 114.3 cm, Length of body: 47.0 cm, Width of body: 35.6, Depth of body: 15.2 cm
French,
18th century
Sébastien B. Renault
Paris
,
ca. 1780
Classification: Chordophone
Credit Line: Gift of Joseph Iadone
Accession Number: 4566.1960
Department: Yale Collection of Musical Instruments
Description
The piriform body is comprised of eleven ribs of sycamore separated by narrow bands of holly. Neck and pegbox are of maple. Table of spruce with floral painted border and parchment rose. The main pegbox holds 11 pegs for the stopped strings (4 double-strung courses and 3 single strings); the second pegbox holds 5 pegs for single, unstopped strings.
The cittern enjoyed a long history as a popular instrument easier to play than the lute. In its classic form it had a piriform body in outline, a flat back, and metal strings. A bass form of the instrument was popular in France in the later 18th century; called 'archicistre,' this instrument adopted the two pegboxes, gut strings, and even occassionally the lute-type body of the theorbo.
The cittern enjoyed a long history as a popular instrument easier to play than the lute. In its classic form it had a piriform body in outline, a flat back, and metal strings. A bass form of the instrument was popular in France in the later 18th century; called 'archicistre,' this instrument adopted the two pegboxes, gut strings, and even occassionally the lute-type body of the theorbo.
Inscriptions
Stamped on lower end of the finger-board in gold letters: "Renault a Paris"; stamped on the soundboard and back of peg-box: "S. B. RENAULT / A PARIS".
Dimensions
Overall length: 114.3 cm, Length of body: 47.0 cm, Width of body: 35.6, Depth of body: 15.2 cm
