Pianoforte Guittar (Keyed cittern/English guittar)
The English guittar [sic] was a six-course wire-strung cittern, most popular in Britain in the second half of the eighteenth century. Christian Claus was the first patent holder for the "pianoforte guittar", an invention which integrated a piano hammer mechanism into the body of the cittern. This novel instrument enjoyed tremendous popularity in the 1780s, but in 1789 Claus left London for New York (fleeing his creditors) and his competitors also ceased making them at around this time. There are a few pianoforte guittars by Claus that were made in New York.
This instrument is an excellent example of Claus’s instruments and includes multiple features from his 1783 patent. Namely the "harp stop", built into the bridge, which could slide into contact with the strings immediately next to the saddle and would mute the sound and removed higher partials, making it sound more like a harp.
(Daniel Wheeldon, 2023)
This instrument is an excellent example of Claus’s instruments and includes multiple features from his 1783 patent. Namely the "harp stop", built into the bridge, which could slide into contact with the strings immediately next to the saddle and would mute the sound and removed higher partials, making it sound more like a harp.
(Daniel Wheeldon, 2023)
Artwork Details
- Title: Pianoforte Guittar (Keyed cittern/English guittar)
- Maker: Christian Claus (German, active London ca. 1783–1793 New York)
- Date: 1783–89
- Geography: London, England, United Kingdom
- Culture: British
- Medium: Wood and various materials
- Dimensions: Total length 71.4 cm., Fingerboard width 22.7 cm., Fingerboard width--top/bottom 4.7/6.0 cm.,
Body length 40.5 cm.
Body width--widest/narrowest 30/-
Body depth--neck/foot 6.5/8.5 cm.
Vibrating length of strings 44 cm., Bridge height 2.5 cm. - Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.1013
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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Christian Claus
ca. 1785
Richard Meares
ca. 1680
Joachim Tielke
ca. 1685
British
1640–65
Barak Norman
1692
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