"Autumn" from "The Four Seasons" (serial number 203)
The "Four Seasons" guitars are a complete musical ensemble conceived and built by the master luthier John Monteleone between 2002 and 2006. Each instrument is a beautiful sounding guitar with its own individual voice that also functions musically with the other members of the ensemble. The arched top is carved from two pieces of bookmatched quartersawn spruce. The back is made of two pieces of bookmatched quilted maple.There are two elliptical sound holes in place of the more traditional f-holes. The sound holes have serrated edges, suggestive of autumn leaves. The guitar has a golden appearance with a yellow to orange sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer finish. The bridge is made of two pieces of Macassar ebony with two set screws that allow for adjustment. The tailpiece, pickguard, headstock, and fingerboard have Macassar ebony veneer. Inlaid triangles of mother-of-pearl and imitiation red spiny oyster shell appear on the tailpiece, pickguard, headstock, and as fret markers on the fretboard. On the side of the neck are inlaid yellow gem stones used as position markers above the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, and 19th frets. The bass side rib, which faces the player, has two elliptical sound holes that give the musician a better sound experience while playing. Inside, opposite the sound holes is a painted autumn landscape with a man raking leaves and embellished with gem stones to evoke falling leaves.
Artwork Details
- Title: "Autumn" from "The Four Seasons" (serial number 203)
- Maker: John Monteleone (American, Islip, New York born 1947)
- Date: 2005
- Geography: Islip, NY, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Big-leaf maple, Tyrolean spruce, koa, Macassar ebony, curly red maple, stainless steel, spiny oyster coral stone, mother-of-pearl, diamond, gold plating, golden-brown nitro-cellulose lacquer finish
- Dimensions: 44 1/2 × 18 in. (113 × 45.7 cm)
- Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
- Credit Line: Purchase, Abraham J. & Phyllis Katz Foundation Gift, in memory of Michael Allan Katz, 2017
- Object Number: 2017.179.4
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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