Guitar, ca. 183540
Johann Anton Stauffer (Austrian, ca. 1805after 1851)
Vienna
Wood, various materials; L. 33 3/16 in. (84.2 cm)
Rogers Fund, 1979 (1979.390)
Johann Anton Stauffer (Austrian, ca. 1805after 1851)
Vienna
Wood, various materials; L. 33 3/16 in. (84.2 cm)
Rogers Fund, 1979 (1979.390)
An engraved paper label in the body states: Nach dem Modell/des Luigi Legnani 3347/von Johann Anton Stuffer in Wien N-480/Stauffer [MS signature]. Rinaldo Luigi Legnani (17901877) was a guitar virtuoso as well as amateur violin and guitar maker who developed a guitar design emulated by Stauffer. This example has a small narrow-waisted body with a one-piece back, sides of maple, and top of spruce. The neck angle (and thus the height of the strings, or the "action") can be adjusted with a key mechanism. Johann Anton Stauffer was the son of Johann Georg Stauffer (17781853), the maker of the arpeggione (59.105) exhibited in the Museum's gallery of musical instruments.

















