Hermann Hauser (German, 1882–1952)
Guitar, 1937
Made in Munich, Germany
Wood; L. 38 7/8 in. (97.7 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Emilita Segovia, Marquessa of Salobreña, 1986 (1986.353.1)
Curator Comment
This guitar was the principal concert instrument of the famous guitarist Andrés Segovia. He used it from 1938 until 1962 and referred to it in a 1954 article as the "greatest guitar of our epoch." Miguel Llobet, a Spanish classical guitarist, introduced Segovia to Hermann Hauser in 1924. Hauser had been making guitars in the Viennese style, but Llobet encouraged him to make instruments based on Spanish models. It is said that Hauser brought instruments to Segovia for twelve successive years, but none pleased him until he tried this guitar. Segovia gave up his 1912 Manuel Ramírez guitar in favor of this one by Hauser, donating both instruments to the Museum in 1986. Maestro Segovia personally presented the instrument to Philippe de Montebello after a brief demonstration and discussion in the André Mertens Galleries for Musical Instruments.
J. Kenneth Moore, Frederick P. Rose Curator in Charge, Department of Musical Instruments