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Guitar

ca. 1837
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 684
The guitar builder C. F. Martin established a workshop in New York City in 1833 upon emigrating from Markneukirchen, Germany. He later moved his company to Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where it has continuously operated ever since. This extraordinary instrument with an ivory fingerboard and bridge and decorative abalone and mother-of-pearl is one of the most elaborate instruments that he produced.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Guitar
  • Maker: Christian Frederick Martin (Markneukirchen, Saxony 1796–1873 Nazareth, Pennsylvania)
  • Date: ca. 1837
  • Geography: New York, New York, United States
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Spruce, rosewood, cedar, ebony, pearl, abalone, ivory
  • Dimensions: 36 5/8 × 11 9/16 × 3 1/4 in. (93 × 29.4 × 8.3 cm)
  • Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
  • Credit Line: Gift of Peter Szego, in celebration of the Museum's 150th Anniversary, 2017
  • Object Number: 2017.174
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Guitar, Christian Frederick Martin American, Wood, maple, spruce, abalone, ebony, metal, brass, ivory, American
Guitar
Christian Frederick Martin
George Wachsteter
ca. 1838
Guitar, Christian Frederick Martin American, Spruce, rosewood, ebony, nickel-silver, American
Guitar
Christian Frederick Martin
before 1867
Square Piano, Robert Nunns British, Rosewood, mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, abalone, felt, metal, paint, gilding, American
Square Piano
Robert Nunns
John Clark
1853
Apollo Lyre, various materials, American
Apollo Lyre
American
1848–53
Barrel Piano, George Hicks British, Wood, various materials, American
Barrel Piano
George Hicks
ca. 1860

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